DELAWARE - Lawmakers in Maryland and Delaware are reacting to an issue causing a firestorm nationwide, the debate over abortion rights. The debate continues over a new abortion bill recently passed in the House but faces an uncertain future beyond that.
The Women's Health Protection Act also known as WHPA passed in the House over a week ago. A Delaware lawyer says this bill goes beyond providing abortion rights, while some lawmakers argue it's a radical bill.
This new bill comes after the Texas abortion law went into effect in September and the Supreme Court is set to revisit Roe v. Wade this December 1st.
"This is more than about a choosing mother to have an abortion or not it is an issue about healthcare and access to healthcare. Just how COVID exposed racial inequities in our country in the healthcare system, so does the issue of reproductive rights. If you want to be able to have children, you need to have a doctor, you need to have pre-natal care and you find that in communities of color the access to good prenatal care is very limited," explained Shakuntla Bhaya a Delaware lawyer.
"It goes well well beyond what most Americans believe like removing parental consent, removing conscious objection removing things like requiring licensure. It requires taxpayer funding of abortions even though a majority of Americans don't believe in even if they're pro-choice don't believe abortions should be funded using taxpayer dollars," said Rep. Andy Harris.
Delaware Senator Chris Coons says in a statement that read in part:
"Texas' abortion ban chips away at that constitutionally protected right, which is why we must pass the WHPA to ensure Americans can control their own bodies, lives, and futures."
WHPAÂ also comes after the announcement of a Planned Parenthood coming to Seaford. Pro-life groups are holding weekly prayer vigils and protests
across the street where it's supposed to open this month.
"I deal with a lot of people who had abortions...in my church and around me and that effect stays with that women forever it never leaves," said a pro-life advocate from Laurel.
And just this past weekend, a protest was held in D.C. supporting women's reproductive rights.
"It's very important to me that our government, stay out of our personal health choices," said a pro-choice advocate marching in D.C.
Lawmakers agree they do not see the U.S. senate even voting on WHPA. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the future of Roe v. Wade in December, but a decision wouldn't be made until June.