Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Monday defended a divisive Texas law that required doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of abortion clinics.

“Texas passed commonsense legislation to protect the health of women and their unborn children,” Cruz said in a statement. “This law is constitutional and consistent with U.S. Supreme Court precedent protecting the life and health of the mother and child. I hope the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will uphold Texas’ reasonable law.”

A federal court has ruled unconstitutional a portion of the law that restricts access to abortion clinics.