VA Sen. Dave Marsden (D): “Virginia’s Reproductive Health Protection Act goes further than codifying Roe v. Wade in some ways, and steadfastly protects access to safe, legal abortion”

The following is from Sen. Dave Marsden (D-Fairfax), in response to numerous inquiries to him regarding how best to protect women’s reproductive freedom in Virginia, given the likelihood that the US Supreme Court will weaken or demolish Roe v Wade next year.  Sen. Marsden’s response comes in the context of news stories on this topic, as well as internal discussions by Virginia Senate and House Democrats regarding how best to proceed. According to Sen. Marsden:

• “Virginia’s Reproductive Health Protection Act goes further than codifying Roe v. Wade in some ways, and steadfastly protects access to safe, legal abortion.”
• “We will defeat any efforts to repeal the protections that Virginia Democrats have enshrined in the code when it comes to accessing safe and legal abortions.”
• “I am with you. Your State Senate is with you. We are taking this very seriously. Abortion is legal in Virginia and will remain so.”
• “The critical matter is to maintain our majority in the state Senate in 2023 and restore the House of Delegates to a Democratic majority as well.”

“Thank you for reaching out to me and voicing your concern on this important matter, I truly appreciate your input.

Given your interest and advocacy on the topic I may be telling you something you already know, but I think it is important to highlight that Virginia is the first state in the South to protect and expand the right to reproductive health choices. This is true progress and the kind that cannot be easily reversed from one administration to the next. Virginia would not be affected by any Supreme Court decision reversing Roe v. Wade, as abortion is already legal in Virginia, and any attempt would not make it through the Health and Education committee in the Senate, and will not receive a vote on the floor. All of the protections for women will be upheld by the Senate. Therefore we have decided not to go into a special session to deal with this matter, many things could go wrong.

Virginia’s Reproductive Health Protection Act goes further than codifying Roe v. Wade in some ways, and steadfastly protects access to safe, legal abortion. We will defeat any efforts to repeal the protections that Virginia Democrats have enshrined in the code when it comes to accessing safe and legal abortions.

I am with you. Your State Senate is with you. We are taking this very seriously. Abortion is legal in Virginia and will remain so. The critical matter is to maintain our majority in the state Senate in 2023 and restore the House of Delegates to a Democratic majority as well. I am happy to talk with you and explain in further detail about a number of other factors that go into our decision not to go into special session, but a woman’s right to choose is absolute and remains on firm legal ground in Virginia.”