{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-statement-on-supreme-courts-ruling-in-emtala-case", "Hirono Statement on Supreme Court\u2019s Ruling in EMTALA Case", "2024-06-27", "2024", "2024-06", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Mazie K. Hirono", "H001042", "www.hirono.senate.gov", "hirono", "https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in United States v. Idaho, a case concerning the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Following the Dobbs decision in 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Idaho, arguing that the state\u2019s anti-abortion law is preempted by EMTALA, which requires Medicare-funded hospitals to provide abortion care, not just when it is necessary to prevent the death of a patient, but also when an abortion is deemed necessary to stabilize a patient during emergency medical treatment.\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court has avoided cleaning up its own mess. When the conservative justices on the Court overturned Roe, chaos followed by enabling states to implement draconian abortion bans\u2014such as the law in Idaho where patients have to be at death\u2019s door before a doctor can treat without being criminally prosecuted.\n\nToday, the Supreme Court shirked its responsibility to patients and providers across the country. Justice Jackson said it best, \u2018This Court had a chance to bring clarity and certainty to this tragic situation and we have squandered it.\u2019\n\nPatients will continue to suffer and doctors will remain hamstrung in their ability to provide care for fear of prosecution. This situation will continue to sow chaos and confusion and is just one more example of the consequences of the Dobbs decision, giving control of our bodies to far-right politicians and judges.\u201d\n\nA long-time champion for abortion access, Senator Hirono is committed to protecting the fundamental right to reproductive health care for all. This month, Senator Hirono led eleven of her colleagues in speaking on the Senate floor in support of the Right to Contraception Act\u2014legislation she leads with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)\u2014and calling out Republicans for blocking the bill. This legislation would guarantee the right for people to obtain and use contraceptives and for health providers to prescribe contraceptives, and give information related to contraception, free from government interference. In May 2024, Senator Hirono reintroduced the Access to Birth Control Act, legislation that would guarantee patients\u2019 timely access to birth control at pharmacies nationwide\u2014including by addressing pharmacies\u2019 refusals of contraception that prevent patients from obtaining their preferred form of birth control medication. In March 2024, Senator Hirono reintroduced a bicameral resolution honoring abortion providers and staff by designating March 10, 2024 as \u201cAbortion Provider Appreciation Day.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.hirono.senate.gov/news/press-releases/hirono-statement-on-supreme-courts-ruling-in-emtala-case"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0845600627362728, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}