Ted Cruz just voted against the Right to Contraception Act, which would guarantee Texans the legal right to contraception and stop efforts to restrict access.
Senate Republicans voted Wednesday to block a Democratic bill aimed at ensuring nationwide access to contraception, as Democrats push the issue ahead of November’s elections. The proposed legislation, known as the Right to Contraception Act, sought to federally protect the right to purchase and use contraceptives, including birth control pills, the plan B pill, condoms, and other forms of contraception.
The bill failed to advance in a procedural vote, with a tally of 51 to 39. Most Republicans dismissed the bill as an unnecessary and overly broad political maneuver.
GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins crossed over to vote with Democrats in favor of advancing the bill. Schumer switched his vote to a no at the last minute in a procedural move that will allow Democrats to bring the bill back up in the future if they want.
“This is a show vote. It’s not serious,” GOP Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said. “Plus, it’s a huge overreach. It doesn’t make any exceptions for conscience. … It’s a phony vote because contraception, to my knowledge, is not illegal. It’s not unavailable.”
The vote is part of a larger push by Senate Democrats to draw attention to how the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has affected all aspects of reproductive health – not just abortion – as the election draws closer. Democrats are highlighting the issue this month, which marks the two-year anniversary of the high court’s ruling.
“In the coming weeks, Senate Democrats will put reproductive freedoms front and center before this chamber, so that the American people can see for themselves who will stand up to defend their fundamental liberties,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of the vote.
Democratic senators have also introduced a legislative package to establish a nationwide right to in-vitro fertilization, which is expected to come up for a vote as soon as next week.
That follows an Alabama state Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that the destruction of embryos could be considered “wrongful deaths.” While the state’s Legislature took action aimed at protecting IVF in the wake of the ruling, Democrats argue that this is only one example of how access to reproductive health care is under threat across the nation.
“In the nearly two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, our nation has witnessed the dire consequences of Republicans’ anti-science, anti-woman stance, which has jeopardized IVF for millions of Americans relying on it to start or grow their families,” said Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who has conceived through IVF.
In response, Republicans have introduced their own bills on IVF and contraception to counter accusations of extremism from Democrats. GOP Sens. Katie Britt and Ted Cruz introduced the IVF Protection Act in May, while Republican Sen. Joni Ernst proposed a separate bill to promote access to contraception.
“We will have an alternative that will make very clear that Republicans support contraception,” said Senate GOP Whip John Thune. Before the vote on the Democrat-led bill, Ernst attempted to pass her alternative contraception bill by unanimous consent, but Democrats blocked the request.
When asked how her proposal differs from the Democrats’ bill, Ernst explained, “It does not include Plan B, which many on the right consider abortive services. Big distinction. We want to prevent pregnancy, not end it.” The US Food and Drug Administration clarifies that Plan B One-Step, an emergency contraceptive, prevents or delays the release of an egg from the ovary and does not cause an abortion.
Democrats argue that GOP-led bills are insufficient. Democratic Sen. Patty Murray pointed out that Britt and Cruz’s IVF legislation does not protect the procedure, as it does not address embryo destruction. “Unlike GOP legislation that serves as a PR tool to mask extremism, our Right to IVF Act would protect Americans from restrictions on IVF and increase access to these vital services at a lower cost,” she said.
On Tuesday, Democrats emphasized reproductive health care during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing titled “The Assault on Women’s Freedoms.” After the hearing, Murray remarked, “Women’s experiences are too personal for Republicans to spin, and the Republican party’s record is too clear for them to deny.”
The Democrat-led bill to guarantee access to contraception was introduced by Democratic Sens. Ed Markey, Mazie Hirono, and Duckworth.
