Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York announced in a letter to “Dear Colleagues” that the Senate will vote on a contraception rights bill on Wednesday, coming just before the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that struck down the right to an abortion.
Governor Schumer began his letter by noting that June 24 marks the second anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, and that at least 20 states now have near-total bans or severe restrictions on abortion.
“There is no question in the minds of the American people that the Republican Party has led our country to this point, and as Donald Trump recently reminded us, he is ‘proud to be responsible’ for the demise of Roe v. Wade and the bizarre reversal of women’s personal liberties,” Schumer wrote, referring to the reversal of the landmark 1973 ruling that established a national right to abortion.
“Democrats have made it clear that they will not tolerate these attacks and will fight to protect reproductive freedom. That’s why when we return from our Memorial Day legislative session, Senate Democrats will make reproductive freedom a top priority,” he wrote.
Democratic leaders have begun the process of having the Senate consider a contraception rights bill introduced by Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
The bill would guarantee individuals the legal right to obtain and use contraception, and health care providers the legal right to provide contraception, information about contraception, referrals, and services related to contraception.
It would also prohibit federal and state governments from enacting or enforcing any laws, rules, or regulations that prohibit or restrict the sale or use of contraceptives.
The bill also would allow the Department of Justice, health care providers and individuals harmed by contraception restrictions to go to court to enforce those rights.
“Senators are scheduled to vote on this bill this Wednesday, with further action expected thereafter,” Schumer said in the letter.
The vote, aimed at highlighting the parties’ differences on abortion rights and women’s access to health care, follows a message vote Schumer planned for last month on a bipartisan border security deal in the Senate.
Schumer forced Republicans to vote again on the border security agreement, which was blocked in February as an attachment to a $95 billion emergency foreign aid package but was approved by the National Border Patrol Council and The Wall Street Journal editorial board.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) was the only Republican to vote in favor of the border security bill when it came up for a second Senate hearing in May.
Democrats are emphasizing abortion rights and women’s reproductive rights ahead of the November election, with polls showing a majority of voters trust Democrats more than Republicans to handle the issues.
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