The Senate is set to vote on the Right to Contraception Act, which would protect access to contraception by codifying it into federal law. Democrats are highlighting reproductive rights as a key issue leading up to the November election, especially after the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the federal right to abortion in 2022. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the importance of federal protections for contraceptives in protecting women’s reproductive freedoms and criticized Republican efforts in states to block access to contraception.
Despite efforts to pass the Right to Contraception Act in the Senate, support for the bill is expected to fall short in the upcoming vote. Some Senate Republicans have argued that the legislation is unnecessary, claiming that contraception is not under threat in the U.S. However, the bill is part of a broader push by Senate Democrats to focus on reproductive rights this month and to put Republicans in difficult positions on these issues. Schumer also plans to bring a new package to protect in-vitro fertilization (IVF) up for a vote soon, as IVF has gained national attention as a potential new front in the fight over reproductive rights.
The push to put Republicans on the record regarding IVF, contraception, and abortion comes after these issues were shown to be important motivators for voters in previous elections. Although these bills are not expected to pass the Senate, Schumer made it clear that Democrats are aiming to highlight and defend reproductive freedoms in the upcoming weeks. He emphasized the importance of showing the American people where each senator stands on defending fundamental liberties related to reproductive rights.
The Right to Contraception Act was first introduced in response to concerns that birth control rights could be at risk following the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion rights. Schumer and other Senate Democrats are determined to defend access to contraception through federal legislation, especially as some states are attempting to block protections for reproductive rights. By focusing on issues like contraception and IVF, Democrats are aiming to draw attention to the broader fight for reproductive freedoms and to highlight where each senator stands on these critical issues.
The upcoming Senate vote on the Right to Contraception Act and the planned vote on protecting IVF are part of a larger strategy by Democrats to put Republicans in a challenging position on reproductive rights. By bringing attention to these issues and forcing senators to take a stand, Democrats hope to show the American people who is willing to defend reproductive freedoms and fundamental liberties. Schumer’s efforts to prioritize these issues in the Senate reflect the party’s commitment to protecting access to contraception and IVF, even if the bills ultimately do not pass.
