In Connecticut: U.S. health and human services secretary told: Declare abortion access a national public health emergency

Abortion supporters called Tuesday for President Joe Biden to declare a national public health emergency to make it easier to obtain an abortion.

Top Democratic officials gathered at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Waterbury to deliver the message to Xavier Becerra, a former California attorney general who is now the nation’s health and human services secretary.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the declaration could allow telehealth visits for patients to obtain prescriptions for abortion pills that would be sent through the U.S. mail to states “where that right has been eliminated at clinics.’'

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent 6-3 ruling that overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion ruling, officials say that abortion will be illegal in about half the states and legal in the other half. State officials told Becerra repeatedly during two roundtables and a press conference that they will continue fighting to ensure that abortion remains legal in Connecticut.

“Governor Lamont, I’ve got to say, were every state like Connecticut ... we would be far better off,’' Becerra said to Gov. Ned Lamont during the roundtable at the clinic that was attended by a handful of reporters.

Becerra said later, “If you live in the great state of Connecticut, congratulations.’'

Amanda Skinner, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, raised the issue of a public health emergency during the roundtable with Becerra, Blumenthal, Lamont, and more than 20 advocates that included state legislators and health care professionals.

“Here at Planned Parenthood, we are devastated, we are heartbroken, and we are ready to fight like hell,’' Skinner said. “We know that abortion bans disproportionately harm Black women, Latino people, indigenous people, other people of color, people who have low incomes and people who live in rural communities.’'

When asked by the Courant, Becerra did not publicly commit on having the Biden administration declare an emergency but said he was open to the idea.

“We are looking at a number of things that we can do,’’ Becerra said. “We’re going to do everything we can. ... We want to make sure that what we say we will do, we will do. We don’t want to spread any misinformation. We want to make sure that when people hear what we say, we will follow through.’’

“What the Supreme Court did, it took a 50-year-old right and flushed it down the toilet,’’ he said.

U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, who invited Becerra to Waterbury, was emotional as she talked about “a moving and impactful conversation’' with patients at the clinic.

“Black maternal health ... is so important,’' Hayes said. “It wasn’t until I went to Congress that I realized and was educated on how many women are dying in childbirth or immediately after — and how many of those women come from Black and brown communities because they lack education and access.”

As the first Black woman representing Connecticut in Congress, Hayes said she will continue fighting for women across the state.

“I was talking to patients who were me,’' Hayes said after the meeting. “The stories that they were telling were the same stories of 25 years ago, which means that a lot still hasn’t changed. We cannot go back. Every single one of us has a responsibility and an obligation in our respective roles, no matter what that role is, to make sure that we are moving forward.’'

During her remarks, Hayes turned to Lamont and thanked him for repeatedly speaking out since the ruling was released. She noted that the Supreme Court ruling was released on a Friday and Lamont already had a campaign commercial ready to be broadcast by Sunday.

“I’m taken aback by how passionate you are on this issue,’' Hayes told Lamont.

Lamont has vowed at press conferences that he and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, a longtime supporter of abortion rights, would battle back against attempts to change the 1990 state law that has codified the Roe v. Wade decision.

Reflecting the controversy and emotion of abortion, at least six uniformed Waterbury police officers and at least three marked police cars were outside the clinic as top officials were inside.

While many Democratic officials have denounced the Supreme Court ruling, the Family Institute of Connecticut has praised the decision.

“This is the victory the pro-life movement has worked for these past 49 years,’’ the group said on its Facebook page. “We should celebrate it. And prepare ourselves for the battles that still lie ahead here in Connecticut.’’

Peter Wolfgang, the institute’s longtime executive director, recently cited House Bill 5414 because some members of the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus spoke passionately against the bill. The measure passed by 87-60 in the state House of Representatives and 25-9 in the Senate in late April before it was signed into law by Lamont. Lawmakers noted that Black women make up only 12% of the population but have 38% of abortions.

Wolfgang said on the institute’s website that he had never given up hope, saying he had spoken on the issue with longtime conservative radio host Brad Davis, who is now deceased.

“Peter,” he said to me, “Do you think Roe v. Wade will be overturned someday?’' Wolfgang recalled. “I’m telling you Peter, it will never happen!”

But Wolfgang said that he answered yes 15 years ago, and does not rule out changes now in his home state.

“Now they tell us that legal abortion will always be a thing in Connecticut,’' Wolfgang said. “We don’t know what the future holds. But just remember: They said the same thing about Roe v. Wade.’'

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com