President Joe Biden signed an executive order Friday to bolster access to abortion in states that are banning it after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of abortion rights.
The right to privacy in health matters like seeking an abortion was one of the rights Biden said were protected by the constitution.
He said from the White House that they couldn't allow an out-of-control Supreme Court to take away our freedom.
The president called out Justice Clarence Thomas for comments he made in a concurring opinion that led to challenges to previous rulings on contraceptive access and gay marriage.
Biden asked, "What century are they in?" and promised to veto any effort to ban abortion nationwide. Women are guaranteed free birth control under theAffordable Care Act.
Biden signed an executive order that promised to protect the safety of abortion patients and providers, as well as access to the procedure through mobile clinics near the borders of states that restrict access to abortion.
The Department of Health and Human Services is instructed to issue a report within a month detailing actions to safeguard medication abortion, ensure access to emergency contraception and bulk up reproductive education.
It is not clear what the federal government will do to protect access to the abortion pill. The FDA approved the abortion pill, Mifepristone, more than two decades ago as a safe and effective way to end a pregnant woman's life before the 10th week.
The pill can be sent by mail from licensed pharmacies. The decision to expand reproductive rights was praised by the health care provider.
Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court voted to end 50 years of precedent by reversing its landmark 1973 abortion decision. Eight states, including Texas, Alabama and Missouri, have banned abortion so far, and another dozen are expected to restrict or outlaw the procedure over the next two months.
Democrats are angry with the court and want Biden and Congress to do more. The order is vague and leaves a lot of the details to be worked out by the legal experts.
Biden directed the HHS on Friday to make sure that pregnant women have access to emergency medical care if they experience a miscarriage.
Abortion rights activists are concerned that medical professionals will delay treatment for ectopic pregnancies for fear that state prosecutors might view them as a type of abortion.
The Senate needs a minimum of 60 votes to pass legislation, which is a monumental task in a chamber split evenly between Democrats and Republicans.
In his White House address Friday, Biden urged Americans to vote in the upcoming elections.
He said that the fastest way to restore abortion is for a national law to codify it.
Women who live in states that ban abortion can either order the pill from overseas or cross state lines to get a prescription in a state that still allows the procedure.
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