AMSA Stands for Science, the Health of Our Patients & Colleagues,
& the Health of Our Democracy

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AMSA Opposes New Texas Anti-Abortion Law
and Enforcement by Vigilante Citizen “Bounty Hunters”

AMSA believes reproductive health services are essential to comprehensive health care and we support full access to the entire range of reproductive health services. We believe legal, safe, voluntary abortions should be available to all who need them. 

According to Justice Sotomayor, the newest anti-abortion law in Texas (SB8) that took effect this week “makes it unlawful for physicians to perform abortions if they either detect cardiac activity in an embryo or fail to perform a test to detect such activity” and “authorizes any private citizen to file a lawsuit against any person who provides an abortion in violation of the act, ‘aids or abets’ such an abortion (including by paying for it) regardless of whether they know the abortion is prohibited under the act, or even intends to engage in such conduct.“ 

The law goes on to require courts to prevent defendants from pursuing an abortion in the future and awards the private citizen who comes forward as a plaintiff “at least $10,000 in ‘statutory damages’ for each forbidden abortion performed or aided by the defendant.” As Justice Sotomayor says, “In effect, the Texas legislature has deputized the state’s citizens as bounty hunters, offering them cash prizes for civilly prosecuting their neighbors’ medical procedures.” 

AMSA opposes this legislation, which will harm patients, bankrupt providers, and turn neighbor against neighbor. We urge law-makers in other states to shun similar legislation, and to protect full access to reproductive health care including abortion services.

AMSA applauds “the Administration’s commitment to use every lever to defend that right to safe and legal abortion and to strengthen that right,” as well as Speaker Pelosi’s announcement that upon their return “the House will bring up Congresswoman Judy Chu’s Women’s Health Protection Act to enshrine into law reproductive health care for all women across America.“ 

AMSA supports passage of The Women’s Health Protection Act (HR3755 / S1975). We believe this law is necessary to protect the right to access abortion, and we urge Congress to take quick action.

We call on AMSA members and alumni to TAKE ACTION
Stand to protect access to abortion services and providers by contacting your Congress members
to urge passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act (HR3755 / S1975).

A 2-minute phone message, short email, or social media post makes a real difference!

Call Your U.S. House Representative & Senators Today at (202) 224-3121

Find & Tweet or Email Your US House Rep & Senators via TweetCongress.org

Click below to see a list of current co-sponsors of the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA).
Thanking your congress members who support WHPA is a vital action; your encouragement will help them continue to stand up for reproductive healthcare access.

• Senate Co-sponsors (47 as of 9/3/21)
• House Co-sponsors (192 as of 9/3/21)

If your U.S. House Rep & Senators are not already co-sponsors of the Women’s Health Protection Act
contact them today and urge them to support and consider co-sponsoring this vital legislation! 

Find tips when calling Congress and a short call script here 
AMSA Take Action! Call Congress to Pass the Women’s Health Protection Act