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 Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo released the following statement today after the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that Texas saw more than 26,000 rape-related pregnancies during the 16 monthsafter the state passed an abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest:

“When the Texas legislature passed its abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest, Governor Abbott vowed to ‘eliminate all rapists from the streets.’ What our state leaders have done instead is create a public health emergency in communities across Texas, including Harris County. I know firsthand that surviving rape is one of the most traumatic things a person can experience. At its core, rape and sexual assault are about taking away a woman’s agency. Denying that woman the option of an abortion is cruel and only adds more trauma. We have to change this, and it begins with leaders whoprioritize women’s wellbeing over politics. For my part, I continue fighting for women in Harris County and in Texas because I know they deserve better.”