Senate Republicans are pushing the message that they support access to birth control — even after they blocked a bill to create a national right to access contraceptives and backed a measure that reproductive rights advocates say would impose new restrictions.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer brought the Right to Contraception Act, introduced by Sen. Ed Markey, to the floor on Wednesday for a messaging vote to highlight Republicans’ record of opposing measures to expand access to reproductive health since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The bill failed in a 51-39 vote.
“Today, we asked every senator whether or not they support the right to contraception. Republicans resoundingly said no,” Markey said in a statement. “Republicans will mislead, and they’ll hide behind excuses. When given the opportunity to protect the right to contraception, they chose instead to pursue the MAGA anti-freedom, anti-choice agenda.”