1. United States
2. Mont.
3. Letter

The proposed legislation, H.R. 722, seeks to implement equal protection under the 14th Amendment for the "right to life of each born and preborn human person." This bill would effectively criminalize abortion nationwide by granting legal personhood to fetuses from the moment of conception. Such a measure would strip away the constitutionally protected right to abortion access affirmed by Roe v. Wade and subsequent Supreme Court rulings. It poses a direct threat to reproductive freedom and a woman's ability to make personal healthcare decisions about her own body. Protecting reproductive rights and ensuring access to safe, legal abortion services is crucial to safeguarding women's autonomy, health, and equality. Abortion bans disproportionately harm marginalized communities, low-income individuals, and victims of rape or incest. They force women into unsafe situations and prevent access to essential healthcare. No person should be compelled to carry a pregnancy to term against their will. This regressive legislation undermines decades of progress on reproductive rights. It is vital to uphold the constitutional right to abortion and prevent government overreach into these deeply personal matters. Reasonable people may disagree on this complex issue, but the precedent set by Roe v. Wade must be preserved to protect reproductive freedom nationwide.