Vice President Kamala Harris made history on Thursday by becoming the first president or vice president to visit a clinic that provides abortion services in the United States. Harris toured a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul, Minnesota, as part of her "Fight for Reproductive Freedoms" tour.

During her visit, Harris aimed to meet with individuals directly impacted by abortion policies and connect with them in their spaces, according to sources familiar with the event. The vice president's visit to the clinic aligns with her broader strategy of being on the ground and engaging with Americans as much as possible.

As a prominent voice in the Biden administration on the issue of abortion, Harris used the opportunity to highlight the critical work carried out in such clinics and emphasize the need for increased access to reproductive healthcare in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's decision to overrule Roe v. Wade.

Speaking in the clinic's lobby, Harris denounced the attacks against an individual's right to make decisions about their own body, describing them as outrageous and immoral. She strongly emphasized the importance of trusting women and rejecting elected leaders who claim to know better.

During her time at the clinic, Harris met with approximately two dozen healthcare workers, commending them for providing healthcare in a safe and dignified environment. The vice president chose to visit St. Paul specifically because, in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overruled, Minnesota has seen an increase in out-of-state patients seeking care due to neighboring states' restrictions on abortion access.

Harris stressed that access to abortion is not just about reproductive healthcare but also about providing comprehensive healthcare services with dignity and respect. She argued that efforts to restrict abortion access not only endanger women's lives but also deny them essential care, including breast exams and pap smears.

Sarah Traxler, the chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood North Central States, expressed her gratitude for Harris' historic visit, highlighting the critical importance of access to reproductive healthcare for individuals and their families across the country. Traxler noted that since the Supreme Court's decision, Planned Parenthood in Minnesota has witnessed a 25% increase in abortions and a nearly 100% surge in out-of-state patients seeking their services.

Harris made a commitment that if Democrats were to gain control of Congress and the White House, they would work towards codifying federal abortion rights into law. She emphasized the significance of elections and the Democrats' determination to protect and enhance abortion access.

The issue of abortion has become a top priority for Democrats in the upcoming presidential election. President Joe Biden, in his State of the Union address, highlighted the importance of protecting abortion rights and pledged to fight for increased access to abortions. Recent polls have shown that protecting abortion rights is a key concern for many voters.

Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to the Planned Parenthood clinic in Minnesota signals her dedication to reproductive freedoms and underscores the ongoing national conversation surrounding abortion access in the United States.