Senate Fails to Pass Right to Contraception Act in 51-39 Vote Amid Partisan Divide

Jun 5, 2024, 04:20 PM

The U.S. Senate recently voted on the Right to Contraception Act, a bill aimed at safeguarding access to contraceptives nationwide. The bill failed to pass the cloture vote, receiving a 51-39 vote, falling short of the 60 votes needed. Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski were the only members of their party to vote in favor of advancing the bill. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who initially supported the bill, changed his vote to 'no' to retain the ability to bring the bill up for a vote again in the future. This vote comes amid a broader push by Democrats to focus public attention on reproductive rights, especially as the second anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade approaches. Senator Ed Markey challenged Republicans to go on the record opposing the federal right to guarantee access to contraception. The failure of the bill highlights the ongoing partisan divide over reproductive health care, with Democrats vowing to continue their fight to protect access to contraception and other reproductive rights.