WCVB 5 ABC | Massachusetts senators Warren, Markey say more is needed to protect abortion access

By Sharman Sacchetti
Story Originally Appeared in  WCVB 5 ABC

BOSTON– Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Ed Markey joined a roundtable discussion with abortion rights groups in Boston on Wednesday.

The U.S. senators from Massachusetts discussed the next steps with leaders of those groups now that the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion.

Warren and Markey both praised President Joe Biden for the steps he has taken thus far to protect abortion access.

"I am very happy to see that the president is already moving forward on making medication abortion more readily available," Warren said.

"The Biden Administration has been strong," Markey said.

The senators, however, also agreed with the leaders of local abortion rights groups that more needs to be done.

"We know that the antis are going to be refocusing their efforts here, and we need to amp up," said Rebecca Hart Holder, executive director of Reproductive Equity Now.

"Security is really important and it's not just for the patients coming into the building, but it's also for our staff prioritizing care," said Dr. Jennifer Childs-Roshak, president of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts.

Warren also took aim at pregnancy crisis centers. She said women walk into the centers believing they can get an abortion, but the staff at those centers instead try to talk them out of it. The senator called this a bait-and-switch.

"Here in Massachusetts, these so-called crisis pregnancy centers outnumber genuine abortion clinics by three to one," Warren said. "They are giving it over to people who wish them harm and that has to stop. We need to put a stop to that in Massachusetts, right now."

Markey reiterated his calls for abolishing the Senate filibuster, codifying Roe v. Wade into law and adding more justices to the Supreme Court.

"We have to expand the Supreme Court to ensure we reclaim the two stolen states," Markey said.

Warren has introduced a bill to crack down on the tactics of the pregnancy crisis centers. She also said voters need to show up for this year's midterm elections.