House panel to examine states’ abortion restrictions, hear from three congresswomen who’ve had abortions

The House Oversight Committee is planning to examine states’ abortion restrictions and will hear testimonies from House Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.)on their own abortion experiences. 

The committee told NBC News on Tuesday that the hearing is set for Sept. 30 and will focus on the recent push of state-level anti-abortion laws and the health and economic impact for abortion patients. 

Witnesses expected at the hearing include Texas-based OB-GYN Dr.Ghazaleh Moayedi and Texas Equal Access Fund’s Maleeha Aziz. 

The hearing will also examine future legislative action to protect and expand abortion rights for women, according to NBC News. 

“When I was elected Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, I vowed to use my gavel to protect civil rights and civil liberties, including the constitutional right to abortion,” Committee chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) told NBC News. 

“The first hearing I held as Chairwoman was to examine abortion restrictions in Missouri, and I am devastated that almost two years later, we are holding a hearing on even more draconian and dangerous restrictions taking hold across the country,” she added.

The hearing comes as a growing number of GOP-led states introduced or enacted restrictive abortion measures, NBC News reported. 

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott (R) signed a law last month that prohibits abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is typically six weeks into a pregnancy. 

Bush, one of the congresswomen set to testify in the hearing, said that she wants to share her story to help end the shame and stigmatization surrounding abortions, NBC News noted. 

“I believe health care and economic prosperity must be guaranteed to all. Because I believe that abortion care is a human right. Because I believe we must finally pave the way to achieve true reproductive justice,” Bush said.