Eliminating abortion access would have a damaging effect on the economy, Yellen says

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen made the economic case for keeping abortion access available in the U.S., as the Supreme Court prepares to release its decision on a Mississippi abortion case that could overturn the landmark decision in Roe v Wade that protects women's right to an abortion. Yellen argued that restricting abortion access would hurt the U.S. economy. 

"I believe eliminating the right of women to make decisions about when and whether to have children would have very damaging effects on the economy and set women back decades," Yellen said in response to a question while testifying before the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday.

She went on to address the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision directly, stating that "access to reproductive health care including abortion helped lead to increased labor force participation. It enabled many women to finish school. That increased their earning potential. It allowed women to plan and balance their families and careers."