[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 36 (Monday, February 28, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   WOMEN'S HEALTHCARE PROTECTION ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. On the Women's Healthcare Protection Act, later today, 
the Senate is going to vote on a simple yet urgent question: Will this 
Chamber agree to begin debate on protecting a women's right to make her 
own healthcare choices?
  Across the country, it is a dark, dark time for women's reproductive 
rights. Last year, we saw the most--the most--abortion restrictions 
passed by State legislatures in a single year. Some of them were almost 
vicious--the vigilantism of Texas's law. I call it vicious vigilantism. 
Many of these new laws are downright extreme, effectively extinguishing 
women's ability to even exercise their rights at all. The new, extreme 
restrictions fly largely in the face of public opinion. They also fly 
in the face of commonsense health practices. Frankly, they fly against 
common decency itself, and sadly it seems like the Supreme Court is 
close to drastically restricting this long-established right in the 
coming months.
  So the Senate today is going to take action because abortion has 
never been more at risk in America. Indeed, this will be the first time 
the Senate takes a vote on a stand-alone bill to proactively codify 
Roe. Let me say that again. This will be the first time that the Senate 
takes a vote on a stand-alone bill to proactively codify Roe. Every 
American--every American--deserves to know where his or her Senator 
stands on an issue as important as the right to choose, and today's 
vote will do that.
  From the moment that Roe was decided in 1973, the most extreme 
elements of the Republican Party have plotted its demise. The 
Federalist Society was founded with the intent of cultivating a 
generation of judges loyal to conservative causes.
  Sadly, it seems like the Supreme Court is posed to severely limit 
abortion rights in the coming months. That is why this bill is 
essential.
  Congress must codify into law what most Americans have long 
believed--that abortion is a fundamental right and that women's 
decisions over women's healthcare belong to women, not--not--to 
extremist rightwing legislatures.
  We must vote in favor to hold a debate on this bill. I will proudly, 
strongly vote yes. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

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