WASHINGTON — Today, Juliet K. Choi, executive vice president of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in June Medical Services v. Russo that protected abortion access in Louisiana.
“The Supreme Court reaffirmed what we all know—people have the right to access abortion. The Louisiana abortion restriction had no medical benefit, and only served to make abortions more difficult, or even impossible to access, putting the health of people at risk. Too many people of color and people with low incomes, including Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders, already face barriers to quality and affordable health care—restrictions like the Louisiana law make it even worse. Every person has the right to make their own reproductive health care decisions.
While today’s ruling is a victory for reproductive rights, the continued attempts to restrict abortion out of existence at every level of government underscore how critical it is for Congress to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act. The Act would protect the right to access abortion by creating a safeguard against bans and medically unnecessary restrictions that apply to no similar medical care.”
# # #
The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) influences policy, mobilizes communities and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.