Report: Biden Admin Evaluating Public Health Emergency Declaration On Abortion

The Biden administration Is considering a declaration of public health emergency regarding AbortionAccording to a recent study, it is.

Monday Report Axios cited Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra.

“There are discussions on a wide range of measures … that we can take to try to protect people’s rights,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra told the outlet.

He answered a question about a declaration of public health emergency on the topic abortion. “There are certain criteria that you look for to be able to declare a public health emergency. That’s typically done by scientists and those that are professionals in those fields who will tell us whether we are in a state of emergency and based on that, I have the ability to make a declaration.”

Becerra stated that there has never been an a “full assessment” It is not clear what such a declaration might look like or if it would be necessary, but it is there “an evaluation” It is. 

A spokesperson for HHS also spoke to the outlet. “We are constantly exploring additional actions we can take to protect and expand access to reproductive health care, including abortion care, and are prioritizing the actions that can give us the highest impact and most durable solutions.”

This isn’t the first time this administration has considered going down that road. However, HHS Secretary finally decided against it. Call the number on a declaration of public health emergency. Since Roe V. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court last summer, the state of abortion has been returned to the states. President Joe Biden as well as Becerra have been pressured to take action.

Last July, Democratic legislators Submitted Send a letter to Biden & Becerra requesting them to make a National Emergency Declaration. “Public Health Emergency declaration on abortion access.”

The letter also contained allegations regarding the provision of reproductive health care in the United States. “Supreme Court’s radical and dangerous decision … has precipitated a full-scale reproductive health crisis across our nation.” 

“It has also plunged our health system into a state of uncertainty and upheaval that threatens patients’ lives,” According to the lawmakers.

Last summer, as Politico reportedThe White House had been considering issuing a Public Health Order that would still allow Americans to get abortion pills. 

The president was also present at the time. Telled Health authorities to determine if the administration can legally declare a public emergency of health and what its effect would be. 

“When we looked at the public health emergency, we learned a couple things. One is that it doesn’t free very many resources. It’s what’s in the public health emergency fund, and there’s very little money — tens of thousands of dollars in it,” Jen Klein, the White House Gender Policy Council director, spoke to the press at that time. “So that didn’t seem like a great option. And it also doesn’t release a significant amount of legal authority. And so that’s why we haven’t taken that action.”

Axios added that an emergency declaration would likely be challenged in court.