A federal appeals court in New Orleans heard arguments on Wednesday about the constitutionality of a Texas abortion law.
The arguments were before a three-judge panel of the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, concerning Texas House Bill 2 — a broad package of abortion legislation passed in Texas in 2013. The new rules require abortion clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers.
A federal judge ruled in August 2014 that the requirement was an unconstitutional obstacle to abortion access. But Texas officials defending the law say its purpose is to safeguard the health of women seeking abortions.
“House Bill 2 has never been about health and safety,” said Ana DeFrates, who stood outside of the courthouse with a group of other women from the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. DeFrates is the Policy & Advocacy Director for the group.
“Some politicians want to make abortion illegal, and because that’s not possible, instead what they do is pass unnecessary laws to put abortion care out of reach for people,” DeFrates said. “And it's happening in Texas, it’s happening in Louisiana, it’s happening in Mississippi. This will put safe and legal abortion care completely out of reach."
Texas currently has 17 clinics where abortions are performed. If the state prevails, that number is expected to drop to eight, because the other facilities lack operating rooms or would need expensive additions.
