“On International Women’s Day, we reflect and honor the extraordinary contributions women in the United States and across the globe have made in the fight for equality, freedom, and justice. But while we celebrate these remarkable women, we must also acknowledge the barriers preventing women from taking their full place in our societies.

“This year marks the first International Women’s Day after the fall of Roe v. Wade in the United States. With abortion banned in at least 13 states and severely restricted in others, millions of women and pregnant persons have been stripped of their bodily autonomy and personal freedom. Abortion bans harm women’s ability to make decisions about their own lives and are shown to negatively impact women’s economic freedom, educational and job opportunities. Furthermore, these negative impacts fall even harder on women of color, low-income individuals, young people, those in rural communities, LGBTQ+ communities, and others who already face high barriers to care.

“On International Women’s Day, Congress must vow to do better. This means enshrining Roe into law, supporting local clinics, and investing in reproductive health. But the fight for women’s equality doesn’t stop at abortion justice—the leaders of today must advocate for policies that promote gender and racial equity, support organizations that empower women, and stand up against discrimination and injustice whenever and wherever we see it.

“As Co-Chair of the Pro-Choice Caucus, I will continue to fight for reproductive justice and gender equity in every facet of our society, both here in the US and abroad. I look forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration to deliver for women everywhere.”