Vice President Kamala Harris thinks women should have agency over their own bodies, so much so that she's behind federal action to defend access to reproductive care in the nation.
In an exclusive interview with Audacy's 1080 WTIC Newstalk, Harris admitted that the current state of abortion rights in America is all over the place -- and nothing good will come from it.
"The patchwork is really leading to confusion for women around the country and the people who love them. And I fear that in the midst of that confusion, misinformation and disinformation is ripe," she told WTIC host Brian Shactman, issuing a warning. "Predators tend to thrive in a state where people are in a situation when people are confused."
With some states currently banning abortion under any circumstances and other states fully protecting a woman's right to choose, Harris said it's easy to understand why women are in a constant state of confusion -- and that scares her.
"There's so many different laws in different states... There are states that say that there is no exception for their abortion ban if a woman is raped or a child is the subject of incest and child abuse," she said, calling that type of approach "immoral."
And that's why Harris said it's so important for all voters to make their voices heard at the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 8, so the government can pass federal protections for women on reproductive health.
"The outcome of that election will include this issue," she explained. "For example, if we pick up two more seats in the United States Senate, if we hold onto our majority and pick up two more seats in the United States Senate, the President will sign the Women's Health Protection Act, which means that the law of the land would be the protections that existed under Roe V. Wade."
Harris said that's "critical on this issue" because putting into law Roe V. Wade protections means that states that are currently criminalizing doctors and nurses won't be able to do so any longer.
"There's a lot that rides on this election. There's no doubt about that," she said.
The vice president said this isn't just a health care issue, it's an economic justice issue as well.
"It is depriving women of the ability to make decisions about when they're going to start a family. And when you think about the ramifications of that, there is a direct impact on a number of other issues in her life and in the life of her family," she said.
When voters head to the polls, Harris wants them to remember that this is really about having the autonomy to make decisions that are right for each individual's personal freedom, and not having someone else make those decisions for them.
"When people go to the polls of whatever gender, of any gender, I think they appreciate that this is about reproductive health. But it's also about the basic point of everyone's right for self determination and making decisions about their personal life, when they will start a family, and how they will do that," she said.
"I hope, and I, you know, I pray that we can get back to a day when certain fundamental issues are not partisan," Harris added.
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