Top White House official says he's optimistic Supreme Court's ruling overturning Roe v. Wade will not stand long
- A top White House official said on Sunday he doesn't think the overturning of Roe v. Wade will last long.
- "This is just not America," HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra told NBC's "Meet the Press."
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on Sunday said he believes the Supreme Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade will not last very long.
"I've been around long enough to know that nothing's ever totally safe. But remember, we still haven't even been able to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, and so this country has a way to go," Becerra told NBC's "Meet the Press," referring to the long-proposed amendment for women's rights. "But certainly, I don't believe this decision by this court and [Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization] is going to stand long."
He added: "This is just not America. We're not about taking rights. Most people around the world haven't looked at the U.S. as the beacon of light because we do things like Dobbs. Just the opposite. So I'm confident that we're going to get past this."
Last month, the Supreme Court ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that made abortion legal for the past almost 50 years. Several states have already moved to ban abortion.
Democrats have expressed concern over the decision and raised $80 million in the week following the decision. Becerra told NBC that Democrats who are frustrated should give the administration ideas on how to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law. He also called on Congress to pass legislation protecting women's reproductive rights.
"We're going to explore everything we can," he said on Sunday. "And I also would ask them to please pass a law. They have it in their power, if they can find the votes to actually codify the Roe decision, which is what we need more than anything else. Executive action."