Congressman Krishnamoorthi Exposes Dangers Of National Abortion Ban Proposed By Congressional Republicans, Including A Potential Surge In Pregnancy-Related Deaths

WASHINGTON – In today's Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing examining the harm to patients from abortion restrictions, Congressman Krishnamoorthi questioned expert witnesses on the likely effects of the national abortion ban recently proposed by Congressional Republicans, led by Senator Lindsay Graham and supported by Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Congressman Krishnamoorthi asked Dr. Bhavik Kumar of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, and Dr. Nisha Verma, a fellow at Physicians for Reproductive Health, about the impacts of a nationwide abortion ban. In response, Dr. Kumarstatedthat the proposed ban would lead to a projected 21 percent increase in pregnancy-related deaths nation-wide, while among black women, such deaths would increase by 33 percent.

"The testimony we heard today from Dr. Kumar and Dr. Verma helps to illustrate just how dangerous the Republican national abortion ban would be," said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. "Americans overwhelmingly reject this dangerous proposal because they recognize that denying women reproductive health care has direct impacts on the health and safety of women and their families, especially when this proposal would lead to pregnancy-related fatalities jumping by more than 20 percent. Today's hearing served as a stark reminder of the stakes involved with the battle over reproductive freedom in America, and that if Republicans secure a majority to pass their national abortion ban, women will not only lose their reproductive rights and bodily autonomy, but potentially also their lives."

Full video of Congressman Krishnamoorthi's questioning of today's witnesses can be found here.