and economic justice. she s been an outspoken leader in the fight of reproduction rights. just a few months ago congresswoman jayapal was one of three was a congress who stepped up to bravely tell the story of her own abortion. i speak to you as one of the one in for women in america who have had an abortion. i knew i was not ready to have another child so i religiously took my daily contraceptives pill. despite that, i became pregnant i consulted with my doctors who told me that any future pregnancy would likely also be higher risk to me and the child. after discussions with my partner who was completely supportive of whatever choice they made. i decided to have an abortion. whether the choice to have an abortion is easy or hard, whether there are dramatic situations or not. none of that should be the issue. it is simply nobody s business
it s remarkably disrespectful. of our experience as women and families in this country. and, i say it s not surprising, it s still very difficult to read. and we have been preparing for this, not just since espy age was pass and not just since the dobbs v. jackson case was heard. but really back in 2020 when the june medical case was taken up by the supreme court. many of us independent providers and planned parenthood s all over the country started to prepare for what this era could look like. trying to preserve access in the states, these 26 states. and then also trying to describe networks with our abortion fund allies and with our clinic allies to help as many people as we can get the 24 states where abortion is secure. and it s really been a multi-pronged approach and it s been a really difficult time to have multiple contingency plans
whether there are dramatic situations or not. none of that should be the issue. it is simply nobody s business what s choices we as pregnant people make about our own bodies. now tonight, congresswoman jayapal is one of the democratic leaders tassel coming up with a strategy for democrats nationwide. joining us now is the washington congresswoman primala jayapal. congresswoman, thank you for being with us. we appreciate you time as always. this is personal to you but i think it doesn t need to be. in other words, for most people looking at this tonight, they need to look beyond whether or not they know someone who s had an abortion, know someone who might have an abortion and seeds in the context of a right that is being eroded. that s right, ali, and i think it is. the personal stories are important because i think that there are republicans across the country who are trying to say that somehow, this doesn t matter very much or it s not
right now. with roe protecting the rights abortion in that state, women only have to drive an average of 11 miles one way to obtain abortion care. but if roe falls, abortion will be legal in arizona. and women will have to drive an average of 251 miles, one way, the obtain an abortion. let s do one more of these let s look at florida. 4. 6 million women of childbearing age live in florida. right, now our drone can obtain an abortion in florida just driving eight miles one way. but if florida were to ban abortion, the average one-way distance to an abortion clinic will be 575 miles. based on their analysis, they estimate that 36 million women will be forced to travel extraordinary, oftentimes, impossible distances, don t deign the very common, constitutionally protected care that the used to be able to get after a drive of just a dozen or so miles from their home. and that s assuming that they will be able to obtain that care once they make that long journey.
the road ahead at the federal level for defenders of abortion rights. but all eyes are also on the states right now, where the immediate future of access to abortion will be decided. california s democratic leaders are preparing a state constitutional amendment that would explicitly protect the right to abortion in that state. connecticut s legislature has passed a law that the governor says he will sign to make the state a, quote, safe haven for patients we need to travel from states with abortion bans in order to access abortion care. and today, the governor of new york state said, her estate will welcome anyone who needs care, quote, with open arms, and cool. but even as some states move to protect abortion rights in in the face of this looming supreme court decision, other states are pushing with more restrictions. even just today. a grinning oklahoma republican governor kevin stitt, signed