Manning Commemorates Women’s Equality Day in the Fight for Reproductive Freedom

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Kathy Manning (NC-06) commemorated Women’s Equality Day by participating in the Women’s Health Day of Action and highlighting the importance of the continued fight to protect women’s reproductive rights. 

In 1973, Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day to celebrate the passage of the 19th amendment in 1920, extending the right to vote to women nationwide. Today, almost 50 years later, Democrats are banding together for a Women’s Health Day of Action to call attention to the recent actions and attempts to limit women’s reproductive freedoms.  

“Today, I am proud to commemorate Women’s Equality Day by participating in the Women’s Health Day of Action,” said Congresswoman Manning. “Half a century after this historic designation, the recent Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade made it abundantly clear that the fight for women’s freedom and equality is ongoing. With extreme politicians inserting themselves into the most private of decisions, ignoring warnings from medical professionals, and threatening the safety and autonomy of women and girls across the nation, the time to act is now. I’m proud to fight every day for policies that protect and advance the health and wellbeing of women and girls.”

In Congress, Congresswoman Manning has worked to advance policies that protect reproductive freedom and improve maternal health. Congresswoman Manning is a member of the House Pro-Choice Caucus and the Black Women’s Maternal Health Caucus, and has introduced and supported legislation in Congress to promote women’s health and rights.

Fighting for the Right to Abortion: 

• Voted to enshrine the right to abortion into federal law: Congresswoman Manning is an original cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act and voted to pass it through the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation creates a federal right to provide and access abortion care, free from restrictions and bans.

Protecting the Right to Contraception:

• Introduced and passed legislation to enshrine the right to contraception into federal law: Congresswoman Manning introduced the Right to Contraception Act.  Her legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives and gained 150 cosponsors upon introduction.
• Additionally, Congresswoman Manning introduced a resolution reaffirming the right to access contraceptives on the anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case, Griswold vs. Connecticut. 

Improving Maternal Health:

• Congresswoman Manning introduced the Advancing Maternal Health Equity Under Medicaid Act, a bill to expand access to vital health services during and after pregnancy for people with Medicaid coverage, advance reproductive and maternal health justice, and save lives.

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