Senate Democrats to launch abortion-rights initiative on Roe v. Wade anniversary

Senate Democrats are planning to use the occasion of the first anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision to advance legislation focused on reproductive health and access.

While the legislation itself is not expected to pass due to the need for “unanimous consent” from all 100 senators, Democrats aim to put Republicans on the defensive regarding this contentious issue. The primary objective for Democrats is to bring attention to the issue and compel Republicans to explain their positions to the American public. Senator Patty Murray of Washington emphasized, “Senate Democrats will force Republicans to go on the record once again, and explain to the American people why they refuse to codify our right to contraception, why they refuse to let women travel across state lines for lifesaving health care”, characterizing the post-Roe v. Wade period as a “a full-blown health care crisis.”

Soon, Democrats will introduce four pieces of legislation that they consider to be “common-sense” measures. These bills aim to address various aspects of reproductive health and access. The proposed legislation includes provisions to ensure access to contraception and birth control, enable women to freely travel across state lines for healthcare, strengthen data privacy for online health and location information, and safeguard healthcare providers who offer abortion services.

Several prominent White House officials will be participating in significant events. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are scheduled to attend an event alongside the Democratic National Committee and three major reproductive rights organizations on Friday. First Lady Jill Biden will host a roundtable discussion at the White House with women who have been denied medical care since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe. Additionally, Vice President Harris, who has taken a leading role in the administration on this issue, will deliver a major speech on the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday.

However, despite the concerted efforts to garner public attention, most advocates for abortion rights acknowledge that the primary legislative battle currently lies at the state level. Democrats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate plan to leverage the issue of reproductive freedom once again in the following year, capitalizing on how it resonated with voters during the 2022 midterm elections.