Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said the choices of when or whether to have children are among the most important decision every woman must make and those decisions should be made between a woman and her doctor.
The majority of U.S. residents support access to abortion as "a fundamental right that enables millions of women to fully participate in our society," she said, according to a Commerce Department news release June 24.
“Rolling back reproductive rights and access to abortion is a significant step in the wrong direction and will make it harder for women to live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives,” Raimondo said in the release.
Being able to decide when to have children improves women’s outcomes for health, education, labor force participation and finances, she said, the release reported.
The physical and economic well-being of women and the U.S. economy depends on their full access to healthcare services, Raimondo said, according to the release. Women’s participation in the workforce grew the U.S. economy by at least 13.5% since the 1970s, she added.
The U.S. has too many barriers for women to succeed in the economy, with a lack of affordable childcare or paid leave, she said in the release.
“It is undeniable that states that restrict abortion access will make it harder for their businesses to recruit and retain the most qualified and most talented employees going forward,” Raimondo said in the release.
