Hillary Clinton hailed the Supreme Court decision Monday striking down restrictions on abortion providers in Texas as a victory for women across the nation.
The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee also got in a dig at Donald Trump, who once said women should be punished for getting abortions before walking his comments back.
The decision issued Monday struck down requirements that clinics performing abortions meet surgical-center operating standards and doctors have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. The court ruled they put an undue burden on women seeking abortions.
Clinton noted that states introduced more than 400 measures restricting access to abortion and said at the federal level "We’ve seen a concerted, persistent attack on women’s health and rights."
"Meanwhile, Donald Trump has said women should be punished for having abortions. He also pledged to defund Planned Parenthood and appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade," she said, referring to the landmark court decision that legalized abortion.
"Today’s decision is a reminder of how much is at stake in this election. We need a president who will defend women’s health and rights and appoint Supreme Court justices who recognize Roe v. Wade as settled law. We must continue to protect access to safe and legal abortion – not just on paper, but in reality."
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., also applauded the court for "rightly" striking down the Texas restrictions.
“Even without its full roster of nine justices, the court clearly saw through the sham law enacted by the state of Texas solely to limit women’s rights and restrict access to health care," Reid said.
Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said the decision marks a "step back" for states' ability to protect mothers.
“Today’s ruling sets a dangerous precedent for states like Texas, which the Constitution makes clear should be free to pass laws that are in the best interests of our citizens," said Cornyn, who joined 33 other senators and 140 members of the House in filing a brief in the case arguing the restrictions should stand.
"Commonsense requirements that abortion clinics be held to the same standards as other medical facilities put the health of the patient first, and today’s decision is a step back in protecting the well-being of mothers across our state.”
Fellow Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz called the decision "profoundly disappointing."
“Unfortunately, the Supreme Court sided with abortion extremists who care more about providing abortion-on-demand than they do protecting women’s health," he said. “This decision will not silence our fight to protect the most helpless and innocent among us, nor will we cease our efforts to protect women from an abortion industry that prioritizes profit margins over improving the safety and health of Texas women.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who signed the brief with Cornyn, said the fight to promote life will continue.
The Democratic leader in the House, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, praised the court's decision, saying in a statement that it was "important victory for the rights of America's women, but many challenges remain.
“A woman’s health decisions must be her own, in consultation with her family, her physician, and her faith," Pelosi added. "Politicians have no business undermining women’s constitutional right to make their own reproductive decisions. Republicans cannot keep inventing ways to deny women access to their constitutional right to comprehensive health care.”
