Biden Considers Declaring National Health Emergency in Response to Abortion Ruling

President Joe Biden says he’s considering declaring an emergency to utilize federal resources to promote abortion access, even though the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last month.

“I don’t have the authority to say that we’re going to reinstate Roe v. Wade as the law of the land,” Biden told reporters on July 10 in Delaware, adding that he believes that Congress is the entity to codify the ruling into law.

Biden was on his way to ride his bike near his private residence in Delaware when he spoke with reporters, who asked if he was considering declaring a public health emergency on abortions. Biden responded by saying that he is now asking White House staffers to determine “whether I have the authority” and what the impacts might entail.