Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) addressed the Senate on Wednesday, setting up debate on the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify Roe v. Wade. Democrats are preparing to force a vote on the bill in the wake of the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion signaling the Court would overturn the 1973 landmark court case that established a woman’s constitutional right to have an abortion.
WHPA passed the House in 2021 but the bill failed in the Senate. As the legislation requires 60 votes to pass the filibuster, it will likely fail again. However, even if the legislation fails, Schumer would achieve his goal of getting Republican senators on record less than six months before the midterm elections.
In his arguments supporting making a woman’s right to choose federal law, Schumer warned of the outcome of abortion protections being overturned. “If God forbid, you're the victim of rape or incest in many states, you discover that the laws in place could force you to carry your pregnancy to term against your will.” Schumer said this scenario is a “cruel, repressive, dangerous vision for our country” and one “MAGA Republicans” have been planning for.
