Originally by at sherrill.house.gov
Through NDAA, Sherrill Fought for Servicewomen’s Access to Abortion, Contraception, and Emergency Reproductive Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced her support for the Stop Comstock Act, bicameral legislation introduced by Senator Tina Smith (MN) and Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-At Large), to ensure that far-right extremists cannot use the 19th century law as a vehicle to ban abortion nationwide. Her efforts come in direct response to Donald Trump, the Heritage Foundation, and far-right judges and justices’s stated effort to use the antiquated law to restrict access to medication abortion for millions of American women.
“Far-right MAGA extremists are threatening to use the Comstock Act — a Civil War-era law — to restrict access to abortion and reproductive freedom. And according to Trump’s ‘Project 2025’ plan, if he is elected in November, he plans to use Comstock to enact a nationwide abortion ban. That’s why we are acting now to repeal abortion restrictions from the Comstock Act,” said Rep. Mikie Sherrill. “I’m proud to support the Stop Comstock Act to ensure extremists can’t take away the right to an abortion using a law that was all but forgotten until Trump and the Heritage Foundation resurrected it for yet another attempt to undermine women’s freedom to make lifesaving healthcare decisions.”
The Stop Comstock Act would repeal provisions of Comstock that could prohibit mailing medications or materials used to perform abortion procedures. Federal appellate courts have uniformly held that the law does not apply to lawful abortion care. However, conservative special interest groups funded by dark money donations have made clear that they intend to misapply this antiquated statute to criminalize providers and impose a nationwide abortion ban.
The legislation has earned endorsements from nationwide abortion protection groups, including ACLU, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, Physicians for Reproductive Health, and the National Women’s Law Center.
Representative Sherrill continues to lead the fight for abortion rights. She stood up for servicewomen and military families against Senator Tommy Tuberville’s efforts to overturn the Department of Defense’s abortion travel policy. Additionally, she successfully secured an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA to codify access to year-long supplies of contraceptives to service members. Sherrill has introduced legislation to promote education about women’s heart health, and has co-led a bill to ensure women can access a full year’s supply of contraceptives, rather than just three months at a time. Finally, she is leading efforts to end “judge shopping,” a tactic used by anti-abortion advocates to gain favorable outcomes.
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