Allred to Host Dr. Austin Dennard at State of the Union, a Texas OBGYN and Mom Who Had to Travel Out of State to Get a Life-Saving Abortion

Washington, D.C.- Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32), announced that he will be hosting Dr. Austin Dennard as his State of the Union guest on March 7. Dr. Dennard, an OBGYN from Dallas, had to leave her state to receive abortion care after learning she was carrying a fetus with anencephaly, a fatal condition in which the skull and brain do not fully develop.

"I am so inspired by Dr. Dennard's bravery and her resilience in the face of Texas's cruel abortion ban," said Allred. "No Texas woman should have to endure the hurdles that Dr. Dennard did to get the life-saving care she needed. I admire her willingness to tell her story and to fight so that other women don't have to flee their own state just to get the health care that they need. I am honored to have her as my guest for the State of the Union as we work to protect the freedoms of Texas women and their right to make decisions about their own bodies."

"Texas women are being denied their basic rights and freedoms. As a physician and a mother, I know our current laws are unacceptable and unsustainable," said Dennard."What I experienced is sadly not unique, and it is happening every day. Not everyone can afford to flee their home state to get the care they need like I did, and that is why we must restore the right to access an abortion for every woman. I am honored to join Congressman Allred and tell my story about how Texas's cruel abortion ban is harming women and families across our state."

Allred is a cosponsor of the Women's Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, as well as the Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Actwhich would codify the constitutional right to interstate travel to receive health care.

Read more about Dr. Dennard's story at NPR here.