President Biden on Monday presented a series of initiatives to protect abortion access as part of his administration’s efforts to mark the 51st anniversary of the Supreme Court‘s Roe v. Wade decision.
The announcement comes just hours ahead of Mr. Biden convening key members of his Cabinet to discuss abortion rights as part of his latest bid to contrast himself with Republican efforts to impose strict abortion limits at the state level.
As part of the effort, the Treasury, Labor and Health and Human Services departments will issue new guidance that would make no-cost contraceptives available under the Affordable Care Act and take a similar action to expand contraception access for federal employees.
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra also will send a letter to health insurers instructing them of their obligation to provide no-cost contraceptives, according to a memo the White House provided to reporters. It will be part of the HHS effort to “educate all patients about their rights and to help ensure hospitals meet their obligations under federal law.”
The administration is also announcing what it called a “comprehensive plan” to increase awareness about access to emergency medical care required under the federal law known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA. The Biden administration has maintained that it requires hospitals to provide emergency abortions nationwide.
Mr. Biden also has convened more than two dozen senior officials at the White House for the fourth meeting of his reproductive health task force. Several physicians who practice in states with abortion bans will join the meeting.
Vice President Kamala Harris, meanwhile, will travel to Wisconsin, where she will slam a Republican proposal to ban abortion after 14 weeks of pregnancy.
On Tuesday, Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris will appear together at a rally in Manassas, Virginia, to discuss the threat Republicans pose to abortion rights if they win back the White House. The rally comes after Virginia Democrats won majorities in the state Legislature, fueled by voter anger over proposed abortion restrictions.
All of the events focus on efforts by states to roll back abortion rights and link that effort to former President Donald Trump, who likely will be Mr. Biden’s 2024 opponent, and Republican lawmakers. Three of the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe were nominated by Mr. Trump.
The all-out abortion rights campaign underscores Democrats’ belief that the issue will be a winning one for them. Democrats and abortion rights advocates have notched a string of electoral victories, including November ballot measures in conservative states like Ohio and Kentucky.
A CBS News poll released at the end of last year found that 57% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.