Senate Republicans have blocked a Democratic-led bill aimed at guaranteeing access to contraception nationwide, marking a significant setback for reproductive rights advocates. The bill, known as the Right to Contraception Act, was part of a broader effort by Senate Democrats to highlight reproductive health issues ahead of the upcoming elections. Despite securing a 51-39 majority in the procedural vote, the bill fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance.
The legislation sought to enshrine into federal law the right for individuals to buy and use contraceptives, as well as for health care providers to supply them. This would have applied to various forms of contraception, including birth control pills, the Plan B pill, and condoms. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the importance of the bill, stating that Democrats are committed to defending fundamental liberties and reproductive freedoms.
"Contraception is health care, essential health care, that millions of people rely on," said Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii. She highlighted the urgency of the matter following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which she said foretold more chaos to come.
President Joe Biden condemned the Republican opposition, calling it "unacceptable" and reiterating his administration's commitment to restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade and safeguarding the right to contraception. "We will continue to urge Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in federal law and safeguard the right to contraception once and for all," Biden stated.
Senate Republicans dismissed the vote as a political stunt, with Senator John Cornyn of Texas calling it a "show vote" and criticizing the bill for being overly broad. "It's not serious," Cornyn said, arguing that contraception is neither illegal nor unavailable. Similarly, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana accused Democrats of pushing an alarmist narrative and argued that the legislation was unnecessary.
Despite the opposition, Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, both Republicans who support abortion rights, crossed party lines to vote with Democrats. Collins expressed a desire for the bill to include more religious liberty protections, indicating that while she supports access to contraception, the current proposal was more about political messaging than serious legislative effort.
The Democrats' push for the Right to Contraception Act follows recent comments by former President Donald Trump, who initially suggested he might support restrictions on birth control before quickly reversing his stance. This issue has become increasingly entangled in the broader abortion debate, with some conservative states conflating birth control with abortion medication.
In Missouri, for example, a women's health care bill faced delays due to concerns about expanding insurance coverage for birth control, with some lawmakers mistakenly associating it with medication abortion. Similar legislative battles have occurred in Arizona, Tennessee, and Virginia, where Republican lawmakers have blocked efforts to protect contraception access.
The Senate's focus on reproductive health is set to continue, with a vote on legislation to guarantee access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) expected next week. This comes in response to an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that considered frozen embryos as children under state law, prompting several clinics to suspend IVF treatments. Democrats argue that federal action is necessary to ensure nationwide access to reproductive care and prevent courts from making such decisions.
Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, who has conceived through IVF, underscored the importance of protecting these services. "In the nearly two years since the Supreme Court threw out Roe v. Wade, our nation has seen the horrific consequences of Republicans' anti-science, anti-woman crusade that has put IVF at risk for millions of Americans who rely on it to start or grow their family," Duckworth said.
While Senate Republicans have introduced their own bills on IVF and contraception, Democrats argue these measures fall short. Senator Patty Murray criticized GOP legislation, stating that it would not adequately protect IVF and labeling it a public relations tool to mask their extremism.
As the election approaches, the focus on reproductive rights is likely to intensify. Democrats are using the issue to galvanize their base and appeal to undecided voters, particularly women. Schumer has indicated that reproductive freedoms will remain a central theme in the Senate's agenda, ensuring that voters are aware of where their elected officials stand on these critical issues.
