Kamala Harris hosts roundtable with abortion rights leaders in Indiana

Vice President Kamala Harris met with Indiana lawmakers Monday to discuss abortion prior to a special session in the state’s legislature.

“The United States Supreme Court, in the Dobbs decision, took a constitutional right that had been recognized from the people of America, the women of America,” Harris said during the roundtable.

The meeting was held just before Indiana’s General Assembly held a special session to debate passing a new abortion bill. This piece of legislation would ban all abortions except for the cases of rape, incest or if the procedure “is necessary to prevent a substantial permanent impairment of the life of the mother.” This will significantly reduce the abortion rights of Indiana citizens, as the current laws allow for abortions to be performed up to 22 weeks after the last menstrual period. The new law was written by Republicans and will likely pass because the GOP currently holds a supermajority in both chambers in the General Assembly.

“Maybe some people need to actually learn how a woman’s body works.”

— Vice President Kamala Harris at an Indiana lawmaker roundtable as the state legislature calls a special session to pass a near-total abortion ban. pic.twitter.com/7rtyRrFlbH

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) July 25, 2022

During the roundtable, Indiana Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D) provided data estimating that an abortion ban in Indiana will lead to a 21% increase in the number of pregnancy-related deaths overall, with a 33% increase for Black women.

Indiana has already made headlines after the Dobbs v. Jackson decision when a 10-year-old traveled from Ohio to receive an abortion in Indiana last month. Under Indiana’s new law, the girl would likely not be able to obtain an abortion in Indiana.

“She was able to get that safe medical procedure in Indiana,” said Pryor. “She is a baby, why should we force babies to have babies.”