Allred Statement on Amarillo City Council’s Rejection of Abortion Travel Ban Measures

DALLAS – Today, Congressman Colin Allred released the following statement after the Amarillo City Council’s decision to reject travel ban measures that would have criminalized travel to access an abortion.

“In Texas, we stand up for freedom and believe we can make a difference by working together — that’s exactly what we saw in Amarillo last night. I am so inspired by the brave Texans who showed that banning travel goes too far and is not who we are as Texans,” said Allred. “Let’s remember, the extreme abortion ban Ted Cruz has championed is the reason we are even having this discussion. Texas women cannot be prisoners in their own state, and when I am elected, I will stand up for women’s freedoms to get the health care they need, close to home and without fear of criminalization.”

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee will also hold a hearing on the dangers of banning interstate travel for women seeking an abortion. The hearing will feature San Antonio OB-GYN, Dr. Ingrid Skop, and Dallas resident Lauren Miller, who had to flee the state to get an abortion. Allred met with Miller today, to thank her for her bravery and for speaking out.

Allred has long championed protecting women’s right to access abortion, has been a leading voice against restricting women’s right to interstate travel, and has voted to codify Roe v. Wade’s protections to restore national abortion access. He also supports codifying protection for IVF in federal law and has worked to expand access to affordable birth control and over-the-counter contraception.

Ted Cruz has called the state ban giving way to interstate travel bans “perfectly reasonable.” He has praised the fact that “in the state of Texas we have significant limits restricting abortion… and I agree with that.” Cruz fought for years to overturn Roe v. Wade, and proudly supports an abortion ban with no exceptions.