1. United States
2. Letter

Enshrining the right to abortion in federal law is critical to protecting reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy across the country. The leaked Supreme Court draft opinion signals a devastating rollback of constitutional protections under Roe v. Wade that have safeguarded abortion access for nearly 50 years. Without federal codification, abortion rights will be left vulnerable to extreme restrictions or outright bans in states controlled by anti-choice legislators. This represents an unconscionable violation of human rights with severe consequences for public health and gender equality. Legal experts warn that a federal abortion rights law would inevitably face constitutional challenges from opponents emboldened by the Supreme Court's conservative supermajority. However, Congress has the authority to regulate interstate commerce and economic activities, a power that could provide justification for federal abortion legislation. Furthermore, overturning settled precedent like Roe undermines respect for the rule of law and the Court's legitimacy. Passing comprehensive legislation to enshrine abortion protections is an urgent imperative to uphold core American values of liberty and equal protection under the law. Reproductive freedom must be federally guaranteed through the legislative process.