Marchant Issues Response to Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Texas’ HB 2

WASHINGTON – June 27, 2016: U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX-24) issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt. The Court in a 5-3 decision overturned a lower court’s ruling on the constitutionality of Texas HB 2, a state law that established stricter standards for abortion providers and facilities.

“Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn large parts of HB 2 is a major disappointment,” said Marchant. “This law would have deterred and prevented repeats of the Kermit Gosnell horror by holding abortion providers to comparable standards required of many medical facilities. In striking HB 2 down, the Court has put its ideology above both the will of the people of Texas and public safety. ”

“Decisions like the one rendered today make clear the importance of appointing Supreme Court justices who are committed to defending the right to life. Today the Court has once again failed to protect the lives and health of unborn children and their mothers. I hope that my colleagues in the Senate will heed these lessons as they consider Court nominees going forward.”

U.S. Congressman Kenny Marchant was part of a broad congressional coalition in filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of Texas HB 2. The coalition was comprised of 140 members of the House and 34 members of the Senate, including Texas Senators Cornyn and Cruz. This coalition filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of upholding HB 2 in February 2016. That amicus brief can be found here.