Rep. McBride: “The Republican agenda is not pro-family”

Washington, D.C. — At Thursday’s hearing hosted by the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee, Democratic Women’s Caucus, and Reproductive Freedom Caucus, Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) delivered forceful remarks condemning Republican-led attacks on reproductive freedom.

“Let’s be clear: the Republican agenda is not pro-life. It’s not pro-family. And it’s certainly not pro-freedom.” said Rep. McBride. “Because if it were, Republicans wouldn’t be forcing women to flee their home states just to access basic reproductive care, or threatening IVF and contraception. And they certainly wouldn’t be criminalizing doctors for saving lives.

The hearing, titled The Republican Attacks on Reproductive Freedom, spotlighted the real-life consequences of abortion bans, restrictions on fertility care, and the broader Republican agenda to roll back reproductive rights. Witnesses included Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson, maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Cara Heuser, Tennessee State Senator London Lamar, and Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Alderman and reproductive health advocate, Heather Martell.

McBride thanked Martell for sharing her personal story of being denied reproductive care in her home state, and drew attention to the economic and emotional burdens imposed on families:

“You were denied life-saving abortion care in your home state when you were pregnant — you had to go to another state,” said Rep. McBride. “But my understanding is that the challenges and the costs​ that you have faced in building a family through the years, they don’t end there. That’s not freedom. Having to leave your state to get care, having to pay large sums out of pocket. That’s not freedom, that’s not family values, that’s cruelty, it’s abandonment.”

“We’re told again and again that these policies are about protecting life, but if that were true, we would see investments in policies that actually help people live and start a family and raise kids,” continued McBride. Instead, we see burdens, we see bans, we see barriers.”

McBride also called out the Republican budget proposal, which she warned would further erode access to care by slashing Medicaid—jeopardizing coverage for millions of Americans, including the 41% of births that are covered by Medicaid.

Rep. McBride is a co-sponsor of legislation to enshrine reproductive freedom into law, including the Women’s Health Protection Act, the Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act, and the My Body, My Data Act. In the Delaware General Assembly, she led efforts to protect access to abortion, making Delaware a national model for reproductive rights.

McBride’s full remarks are available for use here.

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