Ocasio-Cortez's Abortion Law Vote: Understanding Her Decision

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known by her initials AOC, is an American politician and activist serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district since 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party and co-sponsored and voted for the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), which passed in the House in July 2022. This bill aimed to codify abortion rights into federal law and reject the Supreme Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade. Ocasio-Cortez was also one of 17 members of Congress arrested during an abortion-rights protest in July 2022, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Ocasio-Cortez co-sponsored and voted for the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA)

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, also known by her initials AOC, proudly co-sponsored and voted for the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), which passed in the House in July 2022. Ocasio-Cortez is an American politician and activist serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district since 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party and the House Pro-Choice Caucus.

The WHPA bill would reject the Supreme Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade and codify abortion rights into federal law. Ocasio-Cortez supports repealing the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from being used to cover abortion care, thereby denying healthcare to millions of low-income families. Ocasio-Cortez has also called for men to advocate for women in the wake of the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. She has stated that men are also adversely impacted by the patriarchy and that they, too, benefit from the advancement of women's rights, including the right to abortion.

Ocasio-Cortez has been a vocal supporter of reproductive rights and was arrested at an abortion-rights protest in July 2022, along with 17 other members of Congress. She has also called for the creation of abortion clinics on federal land and has advocated for the impeachment of Supreme Court justices who lied during their confirmation hearings when they assured senators that Roe v. Wade was established precedent.

Ocasio-Cortez supports repealing the Hyde Amendment

Ocasio-Cortez has been a vocal supporter of abortion rights and has actively campaigned to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which bars the use of federal funds for abortions. In 2019, she started a petition to repeal the amendment, arguing that the restriction disproportionately harms low-income Americans and women of color. In an email to her supporters, Ocasio-Cortez wrote:

> "It's not the 70s anymore. This is 2019, and none of our leaders should be willing to stand by a policy that disproportionately harms low-income Americans and people of color just to suit the interests of anti-choice zealots. That ends now. We're going to fight to repeal the Hyde Amendment, and let people access the care that they need. Sign your name if you stand for repealing the Hyde Amendment."

The Hyde Amendment was first passed in response to the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling in 1973, which established a woman's right to abortion. Ocasio-Cortez has criticized this amendment as outdated and unacceptable in modern times. She has emphasized that abortion care is healthcare and that it is unacceptable for women to be forced to go through with unwanted pregnancies due to a lack of access to care.

Ocasio-Cortez's efforts to repeal the Hyde Amendment extend beyond the petition. She has also co-sponsored and voted for the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), which passed in the House in July 2022. This bill aims to codify abortion rights into federal law, further solidifying her commitment to ensuring access to safe and legal abortion care.

Ocasio-Cortez's support for repealing the Hyde Amendment is part of her broader progressive platform, which includes support for Medicare for All and tuition-free public college. She is a prominent leader of the left-wing faction of the Democratic Party and a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus. Her advocacy for abortion rights has been consistent, and she continues to be a strong voice in the fight for reproductive justice.

Ocasio-Cortez called for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justices

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York, introduced articles of impeachment against conservative US Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. The articles of impeachment were co-sponsored by seven other Democrats in the House. Ocasio-Cortez accused the justices of failing to recuse themselves from cases despite personal bias and not disclosing lavish gifts they received.

The impeachment effort came in response to the Supreme Court's ruling that former presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions, which Ocasio-Cortez argued threatened American democracy and amounted to an "authoritarian capture". She also cited the justices' connections to Trump's "Stop the Steal" movement, which critics argued should have led them to recuse themselves from any related cases.

The articles of impeachment are unlikely to gain traction in the US House, which is controlled by Republicans. However, Ocasio-Cortez's efforts highlight the concerns over the ethics and conduct of the Supreme Court justices, particularly in light of recent controversies surrounding their refusal to recuse themselves from certain cases and their failure to disclose gifts and benefits received.

Ocasio-Cortez was arrested at an abortion-rights protest

On July 19, 2022, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, along with 17 other members of Congress, was arrested during an abortion-rights protest outside the Supreme Court Building. Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the House pro-choice caucus, was arrested for refusing to clear a street during the protest.

Ocasio-Cortez, who has been serving as the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district since 2019, is a prominent supporter of abortion rights. She has been vocal about her stance on abortion, stating that it is a human right and that men need to advocate for women in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Ocasio-Cortez also co-sponsored and voted for the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), which passed in the House in July 2022. The WHPA aimed to codify abortion rights into federal law and reject the Supreme Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade. Additionally, as a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Ocasio-Cortez supports repealing the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion care.

Ocasio-Cortez's arrest during the abortion-rights protest reflects her commitment to defending abortion rights and ensuring access to reproductive healthcare for women across the United States.

Ocasio-Cortez called Heartbeat abortion laws a 'backdoor ban'

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the Democratic Party, has been a vocal supporter of abortion rights. Ocasio-Cortez called out new "heartbeat" abortion laws, which ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, as a "backdoor ban" on the procedure. She argued that many women may not even be aware of their pregnancy at that early stage, especially if they have irregular periods or have experienced sexual assault or taken the morning-after pill, both of which can affect the menstrual cycle.

Ocasio-Cortez's criticism of these laws came after Georgia became the latest state to enact such legislation in 2019, joining states like Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississippi. The laws sparked controversy and were challenged in court, with Planned Parenthood vowing to sue and campaign against the lawmakers who supported them.

Ocasio-Cortez's stance on abortion rights is further highlighted by her co-sponsorship of the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA), which passed in the House in July 2022. This bill aimed to codify abortion rights into federal law, rejecting the Supreme Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade. Additionally, as a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, she supports repealing the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funds from being used for abortion care, impacting low-income families' access to healthcare.

Ocasio-Cortez has consistently advocated for women's reproductive rights and has been arrested alongside other Democratic lawmakers for participating in abortion rights rallies. She has also called for men to speak up about abortion rights, arguing that it is crucial for those who are not directly affected by an issue to lend their voices to marginalized groups.

Frequently asked questions