INDIANAPOLIS—Today, Vice President Kamala Harris joined Democratic members of the Indiana Legislature for a roundtable discussion and media avail on abortion access in Indiana. Her visit comes as a critical show of support to Hoosier and Democratic efforts to defend women’s reproductive rights as the supermajority moves toward a total abortion ban with limited exceptions in Indiana. Statements from Indiana Senate Democratic Leader Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) and State Senator Jean Breaux (D-Indianapolis) can be found below.

State Senator Jean Breaux’s statement:

“I am so grateful to Vice President Harris for taking time out of her incredibly busy schedule to come to Indiana and shine a national spotlight on what is happening in this state. Indiana already ranks 3rd in the country for maternal mortality, and African American moms are 243% more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth related causes than White women. Indiana’s infant mortality rate is the 7th highest in the nation. And Black babies in Indiana die at 2.5 times the rate of White babies. I am scared for our community, and I am angry that Republicans not only continue to ignore these real life and death situations for families, but double down on these dangers by removing abortion as a maternal healthcare option.

“I stand here extremely concerned for the lives of women. Total abortion bans, similar to the one proposed by Indiana Republicans, will lead to a 21% increase in the number of pregnancy-related deaths overall, and a 33% increase among Black women. This does not include the deaths resulting from attempted abortions in potentially dangerous, unlicensed facilities. Lack of abortion access in a state with abysmal maternity care will kill women.”