Sep 4, 2024
Press
Congresswoman Summer Lee Joins “Ride to Decide” National Bus Tour in Pittsburgh, Urges Federal Protections for Reproductive Rights
**For Immediate Release**
Kyla Gill, Kyla.Gill@mail.house.gov
Vaibhav Vijay, Vaibhav.Vijay@mail.house.gov
Congresswoman Summer Lee Joins “Ride to Decide” National Bus Tour in Pittsburgh, Urges Federal Protections for Reproductive Rights
Pittsburgh, PA – August 15th, 2024 – Today, Congresswoman Summer Lee joined local community leaders, faith representatives, and advocates at Point State Park for the Pittsburgh stop of Free & Just’s “Ride to Decide” national bus tour. The event, co-hosted by The Hub Project and Free & Just, brought together voices from across Pennsylvania to speak out against the ongoing attacks on reproductive freedom and demand federal protections for abortion rights.
The “Ride to Decide” bus tour, which has made stops in key states across the country, highlights the devastating impact of abortion bans on individuals and communities. In Pittsburgh, local storytellers shared their personal experiences, shedding light on the urgent need for national action to protect access to reproductive healthcare.
Congresswoman Summer Lee delivered a powerful speech, emphasizing the importance of fighting back against extremist efforts to roll back reproductive rights. “When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, they unleashed a wave of extreme and harmful abortion bans that are endangering lives every single day,” said Congresswoman Lee. “We cannot accept this reality. We must hold those who seek to control our bodies accountable and fight for federal protections that reflect the overwhelming support for reproductive freedom across this nation.”
The event featured a lineup of speakers including faith leaders like Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker from the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, community organizers such as Alliyson Feldmann from Red Wine and Blue Pennsylvania, and State Representative Arvind Venkat, who highlighted the critical importance of protecting access to care in Pennsylvania.
One of the event’s most poignant moments came from Kelsey Leigh, who shared her personal story of seeking abortion care in Pennsylvania, underscoring the life-altering impact of access—or lack thereof—to reproductive healthcare.
The tour and today’s event also spotlight the legislative work being done to protect reproductive rights. Congresswoman Lee, a proud member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, and a cosponsor of several key bills, including the Women’s Health Protection Act and the Abortion Justice Act of 2023, reiterated her commitment to championing these causes on Capitol Hill. “We are fighting on all fronts—at the ballot box, in the streets, and in Congress—to ensure that everyone in this country has the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies.”
Recent legislative efforts have seen setbacks due to opposition from extremist lawmakers, including the blocking of the Right to IVF Act and protections for access to birth control. Despite these challenges, Congresswoman Lee remains steadfast in her commitment to advancing reproductive justice.
Related Legislative Actions (Cosponsored by Congresswoman Summer Lee):
- EACH Act of 2023 (H.R. 561): Requires federal health care programs to provide coverage for abortion services and mandates federal facilities to offer access to those services. It also allows qualified health plans to use funds for abortion services.
- Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R. 12): Creates a statutory right to provide and receive abortion care, protecting both patients and providers from restrictive state laws.
- Abortion Justice Act of 2023 (H.R. 4303): Calls for federal investments in abortion care, mandates insurance coverage for abortion, and protects patients and providers from criminalization.
- Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act (H.R. 782): Prohibits punishment for Americans traveling or assisting someone traveling for abortion care, reaffirming the constitutional right to travel.
- Access to Family Building Act (H.R. 7056): Establishes a federal right to access assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization (IVF).
- Reproductive Health Patient Navigator Act of 2023 (H.R.4796): Provides funding to create patient navigators to help women access abortion and other reproductive healthcare in states with restrictions.
- Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act of 2023 (H.R. 1723): Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the use of funds for comprehensive reproductive health care services.
As the “Ride to Decide” tour continues its journey across the United States, today’s event in Pittsburgh serves as a reminder of the collective power of communities coming together to demand justice and safeguard rights that are under unprecedented attack.
Since taking office in January 2023, Lee, who serves on the House Oversight Committee and Space, Science and Technology Committee, has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $1.85 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs. Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 2,300 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.