Press Release - "While Americans Make Their Voices Heard Across Our Nation, President Biden and I Will do Our Part," Vice President Harris Declares in National Speech Held One Year After Supreme Court's Decision to Overturn Roe V. Wade

In Charlotte, with over 1,600 people, Vice President Harris challenged extremist bans on reproductive health care, called on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade, and pledged to continue the fight to protect Americans' fundamental freedoms

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Vice President Kamala Harris called on Americans to continue the urgent fight for reproductive freedom today during a national speech delivered on the anniversary of the Supreme Court's deeply unpopular decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

More than 1,600 people including advocates and community leaders attended the Vice President's rally where she lifted up the stories of those impacted by this health care crisis, called out extremists across the country for their harmful bans on reproductive health care, urged Congress to pass a law that restores the protections of Roe v. Wade, and renewed the Biden-Harris Administration's pledge to safeguard Americans' fundamental freedoms. She also outlined steps that the Biden-Harris Administration has taken to protect women's access to reproductive health care.

Here are five key moments from today's national address:

Vice President Harris once again called on Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade:
"The United States Congress must put back in place what the Supreme Court took away, and have the courage to stand for freedom in every way. The United States Congress must pass legislation to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade. And when they do, President Joe Biden will sign it."

Vice President Harris called out extremists across the country for proposing a national abortion ban:
"Extremist Republicans in Congress have proposed to ban abortion nationwide. Nationwide. But I have news for them: We're not having that. We're not having that. We're not standing for that. We won't let that happen. And by the way, the majority of Americans are with us. The majority of Americans, I do believe, agree that one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do with her body."

Vice President Harris outlined steps the Administration has taken to protect access to health care:
"We, all of us, are now called upon to advance the promise of freedom, including the freedom of every woman to make decisions about her own body – not the government telling her what to do. … While Americans make their voices heard across our nation, President Biden and I will continue to do our part. Our administration has taken action to protect access to emergency medical care, to support women forced to travel out of state for care, and to protect women's privacy. But we know this fight will not truly be won until we secure this right for every American."

Vice President Harris lifted up the real harm that these extreme bans pose to women's health:
"Over the past 365 days, the women of our nation have suffered under the consequences of these laws. Laws that in design and effect have created chaos, confusion, and fear. Laws that have denied the women of our country care even when their life and health were at risk. … Laws that have also impaired access to other basic women's health care. Reproductive care clinics have been forced to close, those clinics that also offer routine check-ups for so many people in the community, trusted by the community. They offer referrals for mammograms and other cancer screenings. The impact to women's health issues broadly is very real."

President Harris pledged to protect Americans' fundamental freedoms:
"These extremists plan to take their agenda national. An agenda that, by the way, goes beyond reproductive rights. It's a lot of these same folks that attack the right to vote, that prevent the teaching of America's full history with book bans … they try to condemn Americans for being who they are, for loving who they are and loving who they love openly and with pride."

Vice President Harris has continued to lead the Administration's response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Over the last year, the Vice President held nearly 50 convenings in 16 different states to bring together leaders on the frontlines fighting to protect reproductive rights. She convened 250+ state legislators from 28 states, as well as health care providers, constitutional law experts, faith leaders, state attorneys general, disability rights leaders, higher education leaders, students, and advocates. In addition, as part of the Administration's Task Force on Reproductive Health Care Access, she brought together Cabinet Secretaries across the government to implement the government's response to the Dobbs decision. On Friday, Vice President Harris also joined President Biden as he signed an Executive Order to strengthen access to contraception.