(WASHINGTON) – On Wednesday, the day Florida’s abortion ban went into effect, Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Vice Chair and a member of Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus (PCC) joined a press call on the far-reaching impact of the ban. The press call included DWC Chair Rep. Lois Frankel and PCC Freshman Representative Maxwell Frost (FL-10). A recording of the press call available here. 

On the call, the members discussed the impact of Florida’s new abortion ban which will prohibit access to abortion care after six weeks—before many patients even know they are pregnant. The ban will also cut off a major access point for abortion patients in Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and the entire Southeast. With the Florida abortion ban now in effect, many patients will be forced to travel to North Carolina (which allows abortion up to 12 weeks, but with a 72-hour waiting period), Illinois, Virginia, or Maryland to access the care they need. 

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05), Vice Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus and a member of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus said:

“We are in the fight of our lifetimes to protect our reproductive freedom, and today marks another sad day in the fight as Florida’s abortion ban takes effect, a move that bans abortion throughout the southeast. One in four women will need an abortion at some point in their lives. That is someone you know, someone you love, and yes probably someone you go to church with, too. We must protect the freedom for people to make their own health care decisions–politicians have no place in it. House Democrats will continue to protect reproductive freedom in the face of extreme Republican abortion bans. We will restore the reproductive freedom that Trump brags about taking away, and we will ensure that every woman can get the care she needs.”

Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10) said: 

“Today, my heart breaks as I think of all the vulnerable, innocent Floridians, women, and childbearing adults who are worried sick and worried for their lives as Ron DeSantis and Republicans have forced themselves into their doctors’ offices, into their homes to make this very personal decision for them. There is nothing free about the stories we hear of women that are forced to do and live through the unthinkable because of these laws that take us back to a time where they have less rights than they have now. Republicans want to turn back the clock on these freedoms but we’re here to say that we will continue to fight to make sure that clock is not turned back – because bodily autonomy and the right to an abortion is a human right.”

Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), DWC Chair of Diversity and Inclusion said: 

“Reproductive freedom goes beyond just the right to have an abortion, it’s about a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions. Not only are abortion rights being threatened, but access to contraception, IVF, and fibroid treatment options as well. This extreme decision is making it even harder for millions of women in Florida and throughout the South to receive much-needed medical care. Florida currently has 50 abortion clinics, which performed almost 84,000 abortions in 2023, with 10% being from out of state. These women now have to travel thousands of miles to receive the care they need. We must defend, protect, and trust our women.”

CONTACT: PressGA05@mail.house.gov 

Congresswoman Nikema Williams proudly serves Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District on the exclusive Financial Services Committee. She is a champion of voting rights and builds on the Fifth District’s legacy as the cradle of the civil rights movement as co-chair of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus. Congresswoman Williams is committed to closing the racial wealth gap and ensuring the promise of America for all–regardless of your ZIP code or bank account.

###