Washington — Vice President Kamala Harris refutes Republican accusations that Democrats support abortions up until birth, but avoids specifying the gestational age at which abortion should be restricted.
In a recent interview with “Face the Nation” in Jakarta, Harris urges Congress to secure abortion rights through legislation after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion. In response, numerous states have enacted limitations on abortion access.
“Congress has the power to restore the rights that the Supreme Court took away from American women,” she asserts.
However, Democrats face the challenge of needing 60 votes in the Senate to avoid a filibuster and must also have a majority in the House, making it unlikely that any legislation to codify Roe into law will pass soon. Last year, the Women’s Health Protection Act, endorsed by the president and vice president, failed in the Senate when it was put up for a vote.
During her interview with “Face the Nation,” Margaret Brennan presses Harris on the specific week of pregnancy at which abortion access should be terminated. Harris consistently emphasizes the need to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade, without directly answering the question. Roe v. Wade guaranteed abortion access until the point of “viability,” which can occur between 20 and 24 weeks with advancements in science.
“We’re not attempting to change anything that existed before June of last year,” Harris clarifies.
Brennan challenges Harris on the Republican claim that Democrats enable abortions until birth due to the lack of a precise cutoff date. However, statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that in 2020, less than 1% of abortions occurred after 21 weeks, with the majority taking place before 13 weeks.
Harris dismisses this claim as “ridiculous” and a “mischaracterization,” but declines to provide further specifics. Some progressive Democrats oppose the establishment of any legal definition for a permitted window of abortion access, arguing that the decision should be left solely to the woman and her doctor.
“I believe that we should enact the protections of Roe v. Wade into law, and this can only happen if we have a United States Congress that acknowledges the women of America should have the autonomy to make decisions about their lives and bodies based on their best interests. It’s that simple,” asserts Harris.
In June, President Biden expressed his stance on the issue, stating that while he is not a proponent of abortion, the landmark decision in 1973 made the right call in regulating abortion limits.
“Roe v. Wade established a consensus among the vast majority of religions,” Biden remarked at a fundraiser for his reelection campaign. He added that in the first three months, the decision to pursue an abortion is between a woman and her family in all major religions. “The next three months is a decision between a woman and her doctor. The final three months require negotiation, as the procedure can only be performed if the woman’s physical health is at risk,” he clarified.
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