House Democrats Propose Abortion Care Resolution

U.S. House Democrats have introduced a resolution aimed at clarifying when abortion can be considered emergency medical care under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). This move comes in response to numerous reports of pregnant women being denied care in emergency departments due to state abortion bans since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Ohio Rep. Emilia Sykes highlighted the need for the resolution, stating it would reinforce that women have access to necessary reproductive health care in life-threatening situations. New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill reported that over 100 women have faced negligence or denial of emergency care related to pregnancy complications since 2022. While the resolution does not alter EMTALA or create new laws, it expresses the House's stance that everyone deserves emergency health care, including abortion. The Biden administration had previously indicated that EMTALA protects such medical care, but state-level refusals persist.