Sacramento – Today Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson (D – Santa Barbara), incoming Chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus, introduced a joint resolution, AJR 2, commending the 30th anniversary of the historic United States Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade guaranteeing women reproductive rights and urging the President and Congress to stand firm in their resolve to uphold the intent and substance of the Roe v. Wade decision. January 22, 2003 marks the 30th anniversary of the United State Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade which established constitutionally based limits on the power of states to restrict the right of a woman to choose to terminate a pregnancy; allowing access to legal safe abortion.
Roe v. Wade is one of the most significant Supreme Court decisions in the 20th century promoting women’s rights. Roe v. Wade has reduced significantly the mortality rate for women terminating their pregnancies. Prior to Roe v. Wade, illegal abortions accounted for about 50% of all maternal deaths. The Roe v. Wade decision has allowed women the ability to control their own reproductive lives, thus facilitating their equal participation in the economic and social life of the nation.
The resolution, AJR 2, is supported by Planned Parenthood, California National Organization for Women, and the State of California Commission on the Status of Women.
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