WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio, led a press conference Thursday pushing for a bill to protect access to emergency abortions. The legislation comes as Sykes is facing a tough reelection bid in her home district in Cleveland and its southeast suburbs.

The bill, which has 114 co-sponsors, would clarify federal regulations on emergency abortion care.

Current federal law already requires doctors to treat patients in emergency situations, which can include pregnancy complications. There has been confusion, however, on the limits of the law in the 22 states that have restricted abortion rights since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

“Women are in need of emergency care and being denied this care. And it is creating chaos and confusion and putting their lives at danger and putting the lives of their unborn children in danger as well,” Sykes said. “We are just reaffirming, in case anyone is unsure that if a pregnant patient comes to your emergency department, you have to treat them. You cannot allow them to go into septic shock, to go into an even greater emergency.”

Sykes brought up the case of Brittany Watts of Warren, Ohio, who spent 19 hours in a hospital waiting room, bleeding and in pain, after doctors told her that her fetus was nonviable. The hospital delayed acting to induce the fetus while an ethics board considered the state’s laws, which at the time included a six-week abortion ban. Watts went home, where she eventually miscarried. When she went to get follow-up care, she was arrested and charged with a felony for how she handled the fetus after the miscarriage.

The bill has little chance of passing through Congress due to Republican opposition.

But focusing on the issue could boost Democratic turnout for Sykes, who is facing a tough race in Ohio’s 13 district, which the Cook Political Report rates as a toss-up. Her strategy is being employed by other Democrats across the country.

“If it is helpful, so be it,” said Sykes. “But most importantly, it's about saving lives, reaffirming that this country is about freedom and autonomy and being able to live your American dream.”

Sykes’ Republican opponent, Kevin Coughlin, has also been careful not to alienate voters in Ohio, who voted to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution last year.

He wrote in a statement,

“Of course I support access to contraception and emergency care. And I do not support any federal abortion bans. Ohio voters had their say on this issue last year with Issue 1 and the last thing we need is Washington getting between you and your doctor.”