Congresswoman Kelly Morrison Delivers Remarks On the Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) delivered remarks at the U.S. Capitol recognizing what would have been the 52nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Representative Morrison marked the anniversary by calling out the nation’s maternal health care crisis and committing to always fight for the right to health care.

“Voters all across the country have shown that they want to preserve a woman’s right to access the health care that she needs,” said Representative Morrison. “I want every woman to know: We see you. We hear you. On this anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we mourn what has been lost, and we redouble our efforts to restore your rights. We will never back down. We will always fight for your right to reproductive freedom.” 

Representative Morrison has been a practicing OB-GYN for more than twenty years, and is now the first and only pro-choice OB-GYN in Congress. She is a Co-Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus Reproductive Health Care Task Force and the Freshman Representative on the Reproductive Freedom Caucus.

Video of Rep. Morrison’s remarks HERE. 

Full transcript of remarks below:

Thank you, Representative Bynum.

Good morning everyone, I’m Congresswoman Kelly Morrison – I represent Minnesota’s Third District and for more than twenty years, I have had the honor and privilege of caring for patients as an OB-GYN. 

And now I am very proud and humbled to be the first – and only – pro-choice OBGYN in Congress.

Two and a half years ago, the Supreme Court overturned 50 years of precedent and issued the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade and, for the first time in our country’s history, taking away a right. 

Today, as we recognize what would have been the 52nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we acknowledge the harsh reality that our country is facing. 

A maternal health crisis was unfolding across the United States before Roe was overturned, but that decision has only served to accelerate that crisis. 

Today, women have less rights to health care than their mothers and grandmothers did. 

44% of women and more than half of Black women of reproductive age live under abortion bans. 

Over a third of counties in the United States are maternity care deserts. 

And we are facing a shortage of OB-GYNs that is only expected to get worse. 

These are serious and dangerous threats to women, children, and families.

Voters all across the country have shown that they want to preserve a woman’s right to access the health care that she needs.

Voters in red, purple, and blue states – from Missouri and Montana, to Arizona and Colorado, to New York and Maryland – voted for reproductive freedom in this past election on state ballot initiatives and constitutional amendments.

And I want every woman to know: We see you. We hear you. 

House Democrats will do everything we can to prevent this Republican Congress and this Administration from going against the will of the people and further eroding your rights.

Unfortunately, later this week, Republicans will resume their efforts to restrict access to maternal health care – pushing through a bill designed to confuse, frighten, and misinform people and criminalize medical providers. A cruel bill that singles out patients who are facing one of the worst days of their lives.

In this moment, we should be doing everything we can to support women and their doctors – not attack them. 

So on this anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we mourn what has been lost, and we redouble our efforts to restore your rights. We will never back down. We will always fight for your right to reproductive freedom.

Thank you, and I will turn it back to the Chairman.