Vermont Fortifies Women’s Right to Abortion by Passing Bill H.57

by Ebony Trumble

Last May 13, 2019, Vermont state legislators approved and passed Bill H.57, a law seeking to make abortion a constitutional right that gives women of reproductive age the freedom of choice, as well as bar public entities from interfering or limiting the right to terminate pregnancy any time and for any reason.

Republican Vermont Governor. Phil Scott supports the legislation of comprehensive abortion rights law and is expected to affix his signature of approval in order to fully enact Bill H 57.

Vermont’s passing of Bill H 57, is regarded as a proactive measure against movements seeking to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion legal throughout the country. Other Republican-led states across the nation have recently introduced, if not passed legislation aimed at restricting abortion procedures.

Alabama recently enacted a controversial abortion law that could imprison for life, doctors found to have performed abortions. Earlier this month, the state of Georgia enacted a law that prohibits abortion once fetal heartbeats have been detected — a condition that may take place by as early as six weeks, when most women are still unaware of their pregnancy.

About the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court Ruling

The Roe v. Wade is  ruling handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court in January 22, 1973, stating that

”Unduly restrictive state regulation of abortion is unconstitutional.”

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Justice Harry A. Blackmun cited and wrote a majority opinion that a set of Texas state laws that criminalize abortion in most instances is a violation of a woman’s constitutional right of privacy;a right that is found implicit in the liberty guarantee of giving every person the right to seek due process as stated in the Fourteenth Amendment.

In the event that the Roe v. Wade is overturned or eroded, women of reproductive age in America stand to lose the ability to resort to abortion in their state.