ST. LOUIS — U.S. Rep. Cori Bush on Monday called on President Joe Biden’s administration to declare a “public health emergency” in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing states to outlaw abortion.
“This is an emergency and it demands an emergency response,” Bush said at a news conference in Mayor Tishaura O. Jones’ office. “This is why I’m calling on the administration to declare the attack on abortion rights a public health emergency.”
Bush, D-St. Louis, said the administration should use its executive authority to “open up resources for abortion services” and expand and protect access to abortion pills.
Bush also called on the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services “to prevent efforts” by Missouri officials to block funds for “essential family planning services.”
She repeated her support in Congress for writing into law the Roe vs. Wade decision overturned Friday by the Supreme Court. She also wants to pass a package to help fund travel vouchers, child care, lodging and pregnancy support care for women in Missouri and other states, where abortion is now illegal, to go to states where it is still allowed.
Bush also said she wants to expand the Supreme Court, abolish the filibuster in the Senate and repeal a federal ban on the use of public money for abortions.
She also said there should be a discussion of using “federal lands for services.” She didn’t elaborate.
Earlier this month 23 Senate Democrats asked Biden to consider analyzing the types of reproductive health services that could be provided on federal property, especially in states where such services are limited by state law.
Jones, for her part, reiterated her support for a bill introduced Friday at the Board of Aldermen that would provide $1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to help St. Louis women get abortions in Illinois.
The bill would authorize grants to provide transportation, child care and other “logistical support needs” to provide access to abortion.
A leader with an anti-abortion organization last week said a lawsuit would be filed to challenge the bill if it passes, citing a state law barring the use of public money on assisting an abortion.
Asked by a reporter about that law, Jones said “we are working with the city counselor’s office to see what is allowable and if this is allowable spending of ARPA funds or municipal funds.”
“This is the time to act and the people elected a mayor to act on their behalf,” she said.
Ultimately, Jones said, the courts would decide the matter because of the likelihood of a lawsuit. The bill also would provide $500,000 for other reproductive health care services such as access to doulas and lactation support.
Five other abortion rights supporters also spoke at the news conference, including representatives of the St. Louis Interfaith Coalition for Reproductive Rights and the St. Louis Doula Project.
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