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President Joe Biden signed an executive order Friday to protect women’s access to abortion and contraceptives, after the Supreme Court last month overturned an earlier ruling legalizing abortion.
The measures included in the executive order are intended to ease some of the consequences women who need abortions may face because of the Court’s ruling, but are limited in their ability to protect abortion access nationwide.
Mr. Biden acknowledged that the executive order from the White House is limited, saying that Congress would need to act to restore access to abortion in more than 10 states where strict restrictions or outright bans have gone into effect after decision of the Supreme Court.
“The fastest way to restore (the constitutional right to abortion) is to pass a statewide law,” Mr. Biden said.
“The challenge we face is to vote. There are elections in November, so vote, vote, vote!” he said.
President Biden especially urged women to get out to vote in November’s congressional elections, saying the fastest way to reverse the Supreme Court’s reversal of abortion rights is to elect a Democratic majority in Congress to pass a law to guarantee those rights.
“This is the fastest route available,” he told reporters at the White House. “It is my strong hope and belief that women will vote in record numbers to reclaim the rights that have been taken from them by the court.”
The issue could help mobilize Democrats in November’s congressional elections, when Republicans have a chance to take control of Congress. Currently, Democrats hold a slim majority in the House of Representatives and control the evenly divided Senate, only through the vote of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Mr. Biden warned that if Republicans take control after the midterm elections, they have hinted at passing a nationwide abortion ban, but said he would veto such a measure.
President Biden has been under pressure from supporters of his party, especially the progressive wing, to act after the Supreme Court’s decision, which repealed 50 years of constitutional protection for women’s reproductive rights.
The executive order directs the Department of Health to take action to protect and expand access to “medical abortion” approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the White House said.
President Biden also directed the department to guarantee women’s access to emergency medical care, family planning services and contraceptive methods.
Mr. Biden has condemned the court’s decision and today he repeated his criticism of it.
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