>> to declare resistance on the committee at any time. welcome everybody to this morning's hearing, i'm invoking rewrites to the ongoing crisis in abortion care and access. before we begin, i'd like to remind members we have established an email address in distribution list educated to circulating exhibits motions and other materials the members might want to offer as part of our hearing today. if you would like to submit materials, please send them to the email address that has been previously distributed to your offices and we will circulate the materials to members of the staff as quickly as we can. i will now recognize myself for an opening statement. two weeks ago in a leak of a draft opinion from the supreme court, we learned that for the first time in its history the court may be on the precipice of overturning president to take away a constitutional right. so doing, it would be revoked the constitutional right to abortion. a fundamental right first recognized almost 50 years ago and roe v. wade. one that millions of americans have relied on for half a century. i want to stay at the outset, i do not condone such leaks. to those responsible, must be held responsible. now that we had this information, we cannot ignore the reality and the magnitude of what the court seems poised to do. what congressional republicans have said they will do once they're in power to enact a ban on abortion nationwide. decision to become apparent guns to those and vigils. she may consult with her doctor, or her loved ones to inform that decision. i hope that she has such people in her life to help her make that decision. the decision belongs to her, period. overturning roe we remove from women the power to decide the fundamental question of whether to carry or terminate a pregnancy. instead we get that power to the state. it is both timely and appropriate for the just very committee to educate the american people about the devastating impact that such a decision would have. to examine the ongoing crisis in abortion care access that already affects people all across the nation. before continuing, i want to say something to those, to all those who are currently considering abortion care. despite these very real concerns about the state of access to abortion care, or it's continuing legality, let me be clear. abortion remains legal. you're right to get an abortion rate continues to be constitutionally protected. at least for now. making decisions about when and how to start a family is essential to women's lives. the right to decide whether to carry or terminate a pregnancy is essential to life, liberty, and equality. it is the very essence of what it means to have bodily autonomy. which is a prerequisite for freedom. again, to say it simply, the decision to become apparent belongs to that individual. period. no court decision is more essential to protecting a white women's individual autonomy than roe v. wade, the landmark 1973 case that recognized a constitutional right to abortion. rowan presented a watershed moment in our nation's history. recognizing the right of women to make reproductive decisions as a fundamental right guaranteed by the u.s. constitution, and a pillar of women's equality. in doing, so the supreme court continues a series of rulings that ejected the government interference and americans most intimate life decisions. to the court, quote, you decisions were more personal and intimate. properly prided, or -- then a women's decision whether to end the pregnancy, close quote. almost 20 years later, planned parenthood versus casey, the supreme court reaffirmed the right to abortion finding it central to a woman's dignity, autonomy, and status as an equal citizen. indeed, if americans cannot make decisions about the reproductive health they, cannot make decisions about starting a career, going to school, opening a business, and planning their life. unfortunately, roe and casey remain under constant threat. resulting in on garden crisis and access to abortion and other vital health care services. over the last decade, state legislatures have passed hundreds of bills designed to block individuals from accessing abortion care. under the disingenuous claim that these laws protect women's health, these states are deliberately attempting to put abortion out a breach. this is so in spite of the fact that numerous studies have included getting birth involves more serious health complications then having an abortion. meanwhile, according to the recently leaked draft majority opinion in a pending case of dobbs versus jackson women's health organization, hosted by justice samuel alito, a right-wing majority in the supreme court seems poised to revoke the right to abortion altogether. to be clear, the straps remains just that. a draft opinion. we await the courts actual decision, expected to be handed down in the next several weeks. nonetheless, we can not simply ignore the fact that the nation now appears to stand at a constitutional turning point. at the supreme court overturns or sucked dearly curtails roe, a precedent that women have relied on for almost a half century, to make decisions about how best to order their lives, generations to come will have fewer rights than those that preceded them. at least 23 states have laws in place to limit abortions, including 13 that have trigger laws that would automatically and all abortions if roe were to fall. at least eight states that have pre-row bands that would be, once, again become enforceable 's should bro be overturned. practically overnight, whether the government protects the essential individual rights to make reproductive health care decisions, or defend entirely upon where in this country a person lives. furthermore, and a leaked draft opinion becomes the courts actual decision, it would exacerbate an already dire crisis in abortion care access. the consequences will be devastating. women who cannot afford to travel, women of color, and women in rural communities will be disproportionately affected by state abortion bans and restrictions. people who work hourly jobs already have children, or live many miles away from abortion provider faced impossible decisions. often instrumental obstacles in finding the time, money, and support to access the care that they need. the care that is integral to their dignity and their fundamental freedom to live their lives on their own terms. my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will try desperately to change the subject and hope that no one notices. if justice toledo's draft opinion hold, millions americans will lose their fundamental constitutional right overnight. do not let them get away with. they will try to moderate the waters today by accusing democrats of bullying the court, as if the wealthy conservative justices voice to hand out this decision habit worse than the women and health care providers who risk imprisonment if they seek a reform abortion after this decision takes effect. they will try to distract you from their ultimate goal, a ban on abortion nationwide without of succession. the public and voices in the media have tried to downplay the consequences of all this by arguing that the leak itself is the problem. and that it threatens the integrity of the court. as i said from the start, the leak is a problem. but i will not be lectured on how to best protect democratic institutions from the crowd that cheered on the mob on january six of last year. and continues to perpetuate a gross lie about the last election. -- keep in mind the most threatening aspect of this draft decision. justice alito's words and logic used today to undermine the right to abortion provide a roadmap for the erosion of other fundamental rights, including the rights to marriage, the contraception, and to make decisions about raising their own children. justice alito's assurances to the contrary and this draft opinion are called comfort. use the same argue about their right to marriage in oakland fell. there's no reason to believe that the same five justices will not engage in a similar raw exercise of power to overturn other basic rights of. levees and gentlemen, at base, safe, legal, and accessible abortion continues to be fundamental to individual equality, autonomy, and personal liberty. the decision to become apparent belongs to that individual. we cannot go backward. congressman must now stand up with americans around the country and refused to turn back the clock. republican leadership is already told us what they want congress to do. for all their talk about returning power to the states, senate majority leader, mitch mcconnell, has already said, a national ban on abortion will be under consideration should roe be overturned. when that happens, living in a blue state will not save you for their attend to take your decision about becoming apparent away from you. nationwide, these nationwide, without exception, means without exception. we cannot let that happen. instead, congress must act to ensure every woman, regardless of geographic location, income, race, or any other factor retains her constitutional right to access abortion. we will fight for legislation at every level of government to protect women's health, to protect access to contraception, to protect access to ivf, to protect abortion rights. women must have the freedom to make decisions about their reproductive health without anyone questioning their intellect, morals, or honesty. i stand with the members of this committee and millions of americans around this country ready to fight for reproductive freedom. i thank our witnesses for being here, i look forward to this testimony. >> i now recognize the ranking member of the judiciary committee, the gentleman from ohio, mr. jordan, for his opening statement. >> thank you mister chairman, it is about intimidation. it started in 2018 when the left and democrats lied about justice kavanaugh, through that individual in such a savage way. i've never seen anything like. it two years later, 2020, we saw senator schumer stand on the steps of the supreme court and threaten sitting justices. here's what he said. i want to tell you, gorsuch, i want to tell you kavanaugh, you release the world with. and you will pay the price you won't know it would hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions. it is about intimidation. 13 months ago, president biden launched a presidential commission on the supreme court to explore packing the court. it was no accident that that's a month, the chairman of this committee, the house judiciary committee introduced legislation to pack the supreme court. four weeks ago, this committee held a hearing in the subcommittee laying the groundwork to impeach justice thomas. of course, three weeks ago, the draft ops opinion was leaked for the first time it's ever happened. draft opinion. late last week, this committee, the democrats passed legislation requiring among other things that people who want to submit briefs to the supreme court would be required to disclose all of their donors in an attempt to chill first amendment protected free speech. the latest attempt to intimidate the court started ten minutes ago. when this hearing was gaveled into order. this hearing is about the very issue in front of the court as we speak. while this is happening, the democrats in the house have blocked ask from considering legislation, passed unanimously by the senate to give the supreme court justices more security. they need more security now more than ever. their protesters are outside their homes protesting each and every day. protesters showed up i justices place of warship on mother's day. you know why they're trying to bully and intimidate the court? you know i? because the evidence for overturning roe is overwhelming. the reasoning and the logic and the majority opinion is so strong. here's what it said. roe is on a collision course with the constitution from the day it was decided. and casey prepares to rated its air. as the air's do not concern some arcing corner of the law of little importance to the american people. further stated, we hold that roe and casey must be overruled. the constitution makes no reference to abortion. no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision. finally, the opinion states, it is time to heed the constitution and return the issue of abortion to the peoples elected representatives. to the peoples elected representatives. those representatives, in the state of mississippi, passed legislation, that legislation was signed by the governor of mississippi. also elected by the people of mississippi. what did that legislation, adopted by the duly elected representatives of the people of that state say? if an unborn child is 15 weeks old, you cannot take their life. you cannot do. specifically, it said this, except in a medical emergency, a person shall, not or knowingly perform or induce an abortion of an unborn human being if the probable gestational age of that human being has been determined to be greater than 15 weeks. why? why do they pick that timeframe? at five weeks, and unborn dot child's heart begins being, i ten weeks vital organs begin to function, at 11 weeks the diaphragm is developing, at 12 weeks the child has taken on human form in all relevant respects. people in mississippi's legislation passed a law in question because they understand that life is precious and it should be protected. they understand that life is a gift from our creator. they understand that you can't pursue happiness if you first don't have liberty. and you never have a real liberty, you never have to freedom of government won't protect your most fundamental right, your right to live. i hope the draft opinion is the final opinion. because it's a win for logic, it's a win for the constitution, and most importantly, it's a win for the sanctity of human life. finally, i hope the attempt to intimidate the court and now. mister chairman, i yield back. all the opening statements will be included in the record. i will now introduce today's witnesses. dr. yashica robinson is a board certified gynecologist. she served on the board of directors and positions for reproductive health, and it is an attending physician at the alabama women's wellness center. dr. robinson receives her b.a. from talladega college, her empty from the morehouse school of medicine. amy around the day, i hope i got that pronunciation correct, amy around the day is the executive director of texas, she serves on the board of quality texas, and the advisory council of reproach action. as we testify a story. she and received her undergraduate degree at the university of texas, and a law degree from new york law school. cloth and glenn foster is president and ceo of americans united for life. previously, she spent seven years as a litigation council with the lions defending freedom. she then founded and managed a law practice and led euthanasia, prevention as -- executive director. miss foster earned her b.a. from dairy, college and a masters degree for the university of south florida, and a j.d. from georgetown university law center. michelle brasher goodwin is the chancellors professor of law and is the founding director of the center for biotechnology and global health policy at the university of california irvine. previously, professor goodwin was the everett fraser professor at the university of minnesota. with appointments in law school, metal school school, and the school of public health. the receiver behave in the university of wisconsin, her j.d. from boston college law school, and receive llm and ask you the degrees in the university of wisconsin. we welcome our distinguished witnesses, we thank them for participating today. i will begin by swearing in our witnesses. i asked that are witnesses in person please rise and raise your right hand. i asked that are remote witness please turn on your audio and make sure i can see your face, and raise your right hand while i administer the oath. do you swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the testimony you are about to give is true and correct to the best of your knowledge, information, and believe, so help you god? >> i do. >> let the record show, the witnesses have answered in the affirmative. thank you, please be seated. please note, that each of your written statements will be entered into the record in its entirety. accordingly, i asked that you summarize your testimony in five minutes. to help you stay within that time, there is a timing on your table. when the light switch touches from green to yellow, you have one minute to conclude your testimony. when the light turns red, it signals your five minutes have expired. witness appearing virtually, there is a timer on your screen to help you keep track of time. dr. robinson, you may begin. >> good morning,, chairman nadler. ranking member jordan, and distinguished members of the committee. my name is dr. yashica robinson, i use she her pronouns. i'm a board certified ob/gyn. a board miner but for sessions for reproductive health. and the medical director of ammo them a women center. one of alabama's last clinics that provides abortion care. as a full spectrum of suspicion, gynecologist, i've a busy obstructionist practice right give prenatal care, deliver babies, and treat people after they give birth. i also provide abortion care. i know patients deserve access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care options. as of today, abortion remains illegal in alabama, and states across the country. but it is not likely to remain that way. this has never been a theoretical exercise. we are talking about the real health and lives of our neighbors, family members, and friends. i came to this work, not only because i believe all people deserved to make decisions about their lives, health, and bodies. also, because of my passion for young people. one that is deeply rooted in my personal experience with becoming pregnant as a young adult. prior to finishing high school, i learned that i was pregnant. as a result of fear and lack of resources, by the time i confided my mother and grandmother, i had no choice. i was going to be a mother. becoming a teen mother came with many harsh realities. i love my children with all my heart. i know that everyone should be able to make the decision to parents for themselves. i have been in the shoes of many of the young people that i see in my clinic. this important for them to know that regardless of their decision, i am here to support them. access to care should not look different based on your zip code. because a medically unnecessary abortion restrictions, i see patients forced to travel up to 12 hours from as far away as louisiana, florida, and now texas. because of the ripple effect of abortion bans, stigma, and target harassment, all leading to other providers being forced to shut their doors. i know of patients who have slept in their cars overnight as a result of mandatory delay periods, because they had no other choice. these are restrictions at needless cost and delays, their effects on the patients i care for our painful for me to see. things are only going to get worse, as states move to ban abortion, should the protections of roe and casey, which are already illusory for far too many people in this country, be overturned. as someone who cares for people throughout pregnancy, maternal health is of the utmost importance to me. in alabama, black women are nearly five times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than white women. this is higher than the national average, which is quoted to be three times more likely. it will continue to worsen as more states limit access to abortion care. systemic barriers, racism, and white supremacy are at the root of both our maternal health crisis and our abortion access crisis. it is undeniable that with