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Louisiana’s junior Senator delivered a speech before oral arguments in the abortion case brought before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Today began oral arguments of a case from Louisiana, “June Medical Services v. Russo,” being heard by SCOTUS. Senator Kennedy spoke at a pro-life rally in front of the court in defense of the law at the heart of the case – Act 620. He also promoted his proposed bill, the Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act.
“What does all this mean for us today? Two things: One, we have a lot of work to do in fighting for unborn children,” Kennedy said. “Two, we have a lot of work to do in fighting for the safety of women, who have too often become the victims of an abortion agenda that cuts deals and cuts corners and puts more distance—not less—between expectant women and quality health care.”
Currently abortions are not allowed after 20 weeks, and before a procedure can be had, the individual must receive two doctor visits in Louisiana.
Previously, Louisiana already required abortion clinics to have transfer agreements with hospitals, for ease of access. Act 620 was passed bipartisanly in Louisiana in 2014, the law would require abortion providers have admitting privileges at a local hospitals.
In 2019, The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to temporarily block the implementation of Act 620. Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the Court’s four liberal justices in voting for the stay, and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh opposed it.
Justice Kavanaugh wrote the dissent:
“Louisiana’s new law requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The question presented to us at this time is whether the law imposes an undue burden under our decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, 579 U. S. ___ (2016),” he wrote, on February 7, 2019. “All parties, including the State of Louisiana, agree that Whole Woman’s Health is the governing precedent for purposes of this stay application. I therefore will analyze the stay application under that precedent.”
Senator Kennedy said that Louisiana has been steadfast in its protection of the lives of both the women and the unborn child. He said he wants Louisiana’s laws to reach nationwide.
“That’s why I introduced Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act in the United States Congress the just a few weeks ago,” he said.
A topic heavily discussed in today’s oral arguments was the 30 mile radius requirement from clinic to hospital. Kennedy’s proposed bill, S. 3226, introduced to Congress on January 21 of this year, would change that requirement to 15 miles, and also require that the patient receiving the abortion to be notified of its location.
