President Joe Biden on Friday signed an executive order in an effort to protect abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Biden is directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to protect access to medication abortion and contraception, ensure patients can get the emergency medical care they need and increase public education on reproductive health. The executive order also aims to protect patient privacy.
Biden says his ability to act on abortion rights is limited and that the quickest way to ensure access is for Congress to codify it into law but noted the votes aren’t there to do so. Biden urged Americans to vote this fall for representatives who would vote to codify the right to abortion into federal law.
In New Jersey, access to abortion remains protected under state law.
