Schakowsky, Casten, Nadler, 72 House Democrats Demand DOJ Enforce FACE Act, Protect Women’s Health Clinics
WASHINGTON - U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Sean Casten (IL-06), and Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) led 72 House Democrats in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) fully enforce the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and ensure women and health care providers are not threatened, harassed, or abused while trying to enter reproductive health care facilities.
“Limiting the Justice Department from enforcing bipartisan law will put at risk the well-being and security of patients, providers, and others at reproductive health care facilities,” the lawmakers wrote. “Individuals have the right to freedom of speech and the right to peacefully gather to protest. However, individuals do not have the right to use physical force or intimidation as these acts pose a threat to those attempting to access a range of health care services - from abortion care to breast cancer screenings, prenatal care, reproductive counseling, and in vitro fertilization (IVF).”
The FACE Act, passed in 1994 and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, protects safe access to reproductive health care facilities, and prevents abuse and harassment of patients, families, and health care providers. Last month, the DOJ issued a memo directing Department prosecutors to severely limit enforcement of the FACE Act, a potentially illegal directive that removes a vital legal tool, emboldens protesters to commit acts of violence and intimidation, and endangers those seeking care.
In addition to Reps. Schakowsky, Casten, and Nadler, the letter was signed by Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Delia Ramirez, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jennifer McClellan, Jesús “Chuy” García, Henry “Hank” Johnson, Gerald Connolly, Grace Meng, Haley Stevens, Seth Moulton, Mikie Sherrill, Nydia Velázquez, Rashida Tlaib, Julia Brownley, Scott Peters, Becca Balint, Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres, Dan Goldman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Raúl Grijalva, Doris Matsui, Nanette Diaz Barragán, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Danny Davis, Mike Quigley, Mary Gay Scanlon, Stephen Lynch, Jill Tokuda, Maxine Dexter, Jimmy Panetta, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Salud Carbajal, Andrea Salinas, Kathy Castor, Mark Pocan, Jimmy Gomez, Judy Chu, Hillary Scholten, Morgan McGarvey, George Latimer, Seth Magaziner, Frederica Wilson, Jake Auchincloss, Greg Casar, Dina Titus, Nikki Budzinski, Eric Swalwell, Kweisi Mfume, Sarah McBride, Juan Vargas, Bill Foster, John Larson, Johnny Olszewski, Sharice Davids, Robin Kelly, Mark DeSaulnier, Lizzie Fletcher, Emanuel Cleaver, Julia Johnson, Brittany Pettersen, Yassamin Ansari, Suzan DelBene, Emilia Sykes, Angie Craig, Steven Cohen, Janelle Bynum, LaMonica McIver, and Glenn Ivey.
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