MANCHIN STATEMENT ON SCOTUS
DECISION TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), released the following statement on the decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn Roe v. Wade.
“I am deeply disappointed that the Supreme Court has voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. It has been the law of the land for nearly 50 years and was understood to be settled precedent. I trusted Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh when they testified under oath that they also believed Roe v. Wade was settled legal precedent and I am alarmed they chose to reject the stability the ruling has provided for two generations of Americans.
“As a Catholic, I was raised pro-life and will always consider myself pro-life. But I have come to accept that my definition of pro-life may not be someone else’s definition of pro-life. I believe that exceptions should be made in instances of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in jeopardy. But let me be clear, I support legislation that would codify the rights Roe v. Wade previously protected. I am hopeful Democrats and Republicans will come together to put forward a piece of legislation that would do just that.”
Capito Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today released the below statement following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning the 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade, and the 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey.
“By overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court has returned this issue to the states to make their own determination. I support this decision, and I would expect West Virginia to support this decision as well. This ruling does not create a federal ban on abortion, as has been suggested by some of my colleagues. Many feel strongly on this issue, but I condemn violent rhetoric and threats towards the Supreme Court Justices. I will continue to oppose extreme legislation at the federal level, and will follow debates in state legislatures, including in West Virginia, on this issue.”
McKinley Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Roe V. Wade
Washington, D.C. — Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E. (WV-01), issued the following statement responding to the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of “Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization” that overturns Roe v. Wade.
“For nearly 50 years, the Supreme Court’s ruling of Roe v. Wade has threatened the lives of millions of innocent unborn children. Today, the Court has taken a historic step to correct this decades-old error. I applaud this decision that will save countless innocent lives,” said Rep. McKinley.
“This decision returns the power to the states to protect the unborn. We must continue to fight the extreme abortion-on-demand, at-any-time agenda and be a voice for the lives of unborn children.”
Congressman McKinley spoke on the House floor on December 1, 2021, on the day the Supreme Court heard arguments in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case.
CONGRESSMAN ALEX MOONEY: A GREAT VICTORY FOR AMERICA AND THE
PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in a 6-3 decision, the United States Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. This 1973 decision allowed for abortion on demand through all nine months of pregnancy. An unborn child is a human life and today the Supreme Court took a gigantic step in protecting the most vulnerable. Now, the voters in each state will decide the laws related to abortion through their elected representatives. Congressman Mooney has stood up for the pro-life agenda and votes consistently to defend the lives of preborn babies.
“The Supreme Court’s decision is an unequivocal win for the pro-life movement and all preborn babies. There is no ‘right to abortion’ in the U.S. Constitution. The word ‘abortion’ is never even mentioned in the Constitution,” said Congressman Alex X. Mooney. “Respecting human life from the moment of conception until natural death is not simply a religious belief, it is a scientific fact that life begins at conception. As a result of today’s decision, millions of lives will be saved.”
Rep. Mooney has voted consistently to defend the lives of the preborn and serves as a champion for life in Congress. He has been a leader on pro-life legislation, introducing the “Life at Conception Act.” The bill codifies that life does indeed begin at the moment of conception and provides protections for the unborn under the 14th Amendment. Additionally, Congressman Mooney has co-sponsored the “Defund Planned Parenthood Act,” protecting taxpayer dollars to ensure they do not go to support the destruction of life. Recently, Rep. Mooney introduced the “Protecting Life in Health Savings Accounts Act.” This legislation ends the preferential tax treatment of abortion by prohibiting the life-taking procedure from being counted as an eligible medical procedure and excludes elective abortions from being paid for out of health savings accounts.
Gov. Justice applauds U.S. Supreme Court ruling returning abortion law to the states
CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice issued the following statement today after the Supreme Court of the United States’ decision in Dobbs returning abortion law to the states:
“I applaud the Supreme Court’s courageous decision today. I’ve said many times that I very proudly stand for life and I am rock-solid against abortion, and I believe that every human life is a miracle worth protecting.
“I will not hesitate to call a special session after consulting with the Legislature and my legal team if clarification in our laws needs to be made.”
Attorney General Morrisey Issues Statement
Applauding Supreme Court’s Decision to
Overturn Roe in Dobbs Case
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey and returning the authority to regulate abortion to the states.
“This historic decision is long past due, although it took nearly 50 years to overturn several flawed Supreme Court decisions that have led to the tragic deaths of more than 60 million unborn children,” Attorney General Morrisey said. “I am proud to stand with those who agree that the law must afford the unborn the same rights as everyone, most especially
the inviolable right to life. Our Constitution should never have been interpreted in a way that lets it override the states’ compelling interest to protect innocent life.”
“In the next few days, I will be providing a legal opinion to the Legislature about how it should proceed to save as many babies’ lives as humanly and legally possible,” Attorney General Morrisey added.
The law at the center of the Dobbs case was a Mississippi statute prohibiting abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
In July 2021, Attorney General Morrisey joined a 24-state brief supporting life in the Dobbs case. The brief urged the Supreme Court to support the right of individual states to regulate abortion and promote the sanctity of life within their borders.
Statement from Senate President Blair, Speaker Hanshaw on U.S. Supreme Court decision
“We applaud the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today to affirm that every human life is precious. We stand strong with the majority of West Virginians who have shown us and told us they believe unborn children are entitled to the same rights as everyone, and we are ready to expeditiously take any necessary steps to ensure we continue to save and protect as many innocent lives as possible in West Virginia.
Our legislative attorneys have been preparing for this decision for weeks. Abortion is addressed in numerous statutes in West Virginia Code, and now our attorneys will need to further review those statutes to determine how they apply in light of this decision. We will work with the executive branch to address any needs relating to our state’s abortion laws that may arise from today’s opinion.”