Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement rebuking the Florida bill – HB 1047 – which would greatly intervene in a woman’s ability to make her own personal health care decisions. She urged a veto from Gov. Rick Scott on the bill, and stressed the importance of her own legislation – The Women’s Health Protection Act – which would thwart the ability for states to pass such restrictive - and ideological - measures affecting access to legal abortions.

“Every woman has the constitutional right to make her own decisions about her health, her family, and her life– without political interference.  This new Florida legislation makes the federal Women’s Health Protection Act more relevant than ever.  State governments must stop trying to re-litigate a woman’s ability to make personal health decisions,” said Frankel.

The Florida bill would change state law to make it harder for a woman to get an abortion, with tougher restrictions and a tighter time frame to access care.

Congresswoman Frankel is one of the lead co-sponsors of the Women’s Health Protection Act which if enacted, would prohibit restrictive regulations and laws intended to curtail reproductive health services for women. Such laws often impose burdensome requirements on access to reproductive health services, such as requiring doctors to perform tests and procedures that doctors have deemed unnecessary, or preventing doctors from prescribing and dispensing medication as is medically appropriate.

Florida’s action comes during a national wave of abortion restrictions. 

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