Statement by the Vice President on the Ohio Issue 1 Reproductive Freedom Ballot Initiative

Today, Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment to protect a woman's right to make decisions about her own body. Voters turned out to safeguard reproductive rights and prevent extremists from enforcing an abortion ban that would harm women and criminalize doctors.

The results in Ohio underscore what the vast majority of Americans believe: politicians should not interfere in decisions that should be between a woman and her doctor. Since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, people across the country have voted to defend reproductive freedom every time it has appeared on the ballot – including in Kansas, California, Michigan, Montana, Kentucky, and Vermont.

While President Biden and I are working to protect reproductive freedom, extremists are pushing for a national abortion ban that would criminalize reproductive health care in every single state in our Nation.

It is past time for Congress to listen to the American people and pass a bill that restores the protections of Roe v. Wade. And when they do, President Biden will sign it into law.