Press Releases

Ahead of today’s expected vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) in the Senate, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is sharing results from an abortion access survey of Mainers conducted in wake of the draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. Of the 3,530 respondents, 82% (2,854 individuals) said they want Congress to pass legislation making abortion safe, legal, and accessible everywhere in the U.S.  

“Since Saturday, my office has been flooded with messages from Mainers who want Congress to pass legislation to protect Roe v. Wade now. I was deeply moved that so many of my constituents shared stories about their own abortions, complicated pregnancies, and miscarriages. Their stories are no one’s business, but they felt compelled to speak up because abortion is health care, not a political football,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “While we are fortunate to have a Governor who has pledged to uphold abortion access in Maine, our reproductive rights should not be at risk every election year. Beyond what the Supreme Court decides in the next few weeks, Republican-led states are already creating horrific laws that would jail women for obtaining abortion care. This is a nationwide assault on our personal liberty and that’s why House Democrats passed the Women’s Health Protection Act last September, despite every single House Republican voting against it.” 

In addition, more than 1,300 of those surveyed shared their opinions on abortion access, Roe v. Wade, and the draft Supreme Court ruling. A sampling of responses received by Pingree’s office is provided below: 

“Both I and my daughter had difficult, traumatic pregnancies. I fear for both my daughters if Roe is overturned. Their health, economic status and their very lives are at risk.  Not only would they not have the option of abortion, but I believe doctors would be hesitant to provide care in high-risk pregnancy cases for fear of having to deal with ramifications of miscarriages, or of treatments that resulted in any danger to the fetus.” 

“This is about women’s rights, all of them: reproductive choice, voting, equal pay—it’s an attack on women. I have lived through pre-Roe to now and I know we are going backwards fast. I fear for the right of my granddaughters and their children.” 

“In college a student committed suicide because she was unable to get an abortion. Are we going back to those awful days?”

“I have been pregnant five times. I have had two abortions (both pregnancies happened while on birth control), one miscarriage (also a pregnancy while using birth control) and I have two children (both planned and both where it took me months to get pregnant). I have two wonderful children who have given me four beautiful granddaughters. If I had not had the ability to control my own body my life would be drastically and totally different and neither my children or my grandchildren would exist. I would not change any of my decisions.”

“I am old enough to remember women dying from illegal abortions.  This will be a disaster for women, men, and girls.  I will haul my old body into the streets once again, to fight this effort to turn female humans into lesser beings!”

“I am an everyday wife, mother, and grandmother.  I had a safe, legal abortion. I want my daughters and my granddaughters to have that same option if / when they experience and unplanned and unwanted pregnancy.  Their right to choose the path to their future is what's at stake.  Please do everything in your power to protect them so that they can choose the future that is right for them.  Our extended family will support your work in every way we can.” 

SNAPSHOT OF PINGREE’S ABORTION ACCESS SURVEY:

• 99% of respondents said they were aware of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion to ban abortion access by overturning Roe v. Wade 

• 67% of respondents said they worry they or someone in their family will not be able to receive reproductive care

• 82% of respondents said they want Congress to pass legislation making abortion safe, legal, and accessible everywhere in the United States

• 69% of respondents said they specifically think the Women’s Health Protection Act passed by the U.S. House last fall should be signed into law

Click here to read a full text of Pingree’s survey which was emailed to constituents on Saturday, May 7, 2022.

In September 2021, Pingree and the U.S. House voted to pass the WHPA, which would protect abortion access nationwide and finally codify protections established by the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey decisions.

In December 2021, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a direct threat to Roe v. Wade. Last week, a draft of the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization was published by Politico. The opinion authored by Justice Samuel Alito indicates that the court plans to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

Click here to learn more about how Pingree is fighting for abortion access. 

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