At Jenkintown forum Rep. Dean calls Dobbs decision a rollback of freedoms and pledges to codify Roe

Rep. Madeline Dean said at a Jenkintown School District forum that the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, "struck at freedom for women and girls" and that she will work in Congress to codify the protections Roe had provided.

"I was devastated at the Dobbs decision," Dean said during an audience question about reproductive rights. "Abortion care is health care."

Dean described the decision as, in her words, "unconstitutionally decided" and said it removed freedoms for women and girls. She said the consequence of that ruling is that in some states people are being denied necessary medical care and, in rare but serious cases, have died after being denied procedures such as a D&C when medically required after miscarriage.

Asked what Congress can do, Dean said that if Democrats hold the House when it reconvenes she will work to codify Roe. She framed the issue as one of personal freedom: "The government has no role to play" in private medical decisions, she said, while acknowledging that individuals may hold personal or religious objections to abortion.

Dean cautioned listeners that codifying protections would require legislative votes and that the outcome depends on congressional majorities and future action. At the forum she did not introduce new statutory text or a specific bill amendment; rather, she outlined legislative intent and political priority.

The comments followed a wider campaign discussion in which Dean urged voters to view the election as a referendum on "decency" and the protection of individual freedoms and democratic processes. She encouraged attendees to hold candidates accountable for their words and records and to participate in the upcoming election cycle.

No formal vote or legislative action was taken at the event; Dean's statements describe intended congressional priorities and do not change federal law.