JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In front of a packed crowd in Downtown Jacksonville Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris pushed for protecting reproductive rights, calling Florida's 6-week abortion ban "extremist" and said the right to abortion was on the ballot in November. We're verifying if three claims she made during her speech are true.
Harris said: "Starting this morning, medical professionals (in Florida) could be sent to prison for up to five years for providing reproductive care even earlier in pregnancy." Is that accurate?
The answer
Harris' statement is true.
Source
Senate bill 300, the law that took effect today banning abortions at six weeks.
The bill states "Any person who willfully performs, or actively participates in, a termination of pregnancy in violation of the requirements of this section or commits a felony of the third degree" ... Punishable by up to five years in prison.
Another claim Harris made: "Just this week in an interview (Donald Trump) said states have the right to monitor pregnant women to enforce these bans." Did Former President Trump say this?
The answer
This claim needs context.
Source
An interview with "Time" magazine last month.
The former president was asked if states should monitor pregnancies. He responded, "I think they might do that. Again, you'll have to speak to the individual states."
Finally, Harris stated in her speech, "Since Roe was overturned, every time reproductive freedom has been on the ballot, the people of America voted for freedom." Is this accurate?
The answer
This is true.
The source
According to the Associated Press, "... Voters in seven states — California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont — have sided with abortion rights supporters on ballot measures."