[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 94 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S3916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       RIGHT TO CONTRACEPTION ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, now on reproductive care, this month, 
America marks a dark and somber anniversary--2 years since a radical 
MAGA majority on the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The decision 
to overturn Roe will go down as one of the worst Supreme Court cases in 
modern times. It will be remembered as one of the most draconian 
reversals of individual liberty in American history.
  There should be no question who brought our country to this crisis. 
It was Donald Trump and hard-right Republicans, who have made clear 
that they will not rest until freedom of choice is eliminated across 
the country.
  Democrats will not stand for Republicans' relentless attacks on 
reproductive freedoms. This week, the Senate will begin our defense of 
freedom of choice with a vote to protect access to contraceptives.
  Before the Memorial Day holiday, I began the process for the Senate 
to consider the Right to Contraception Act, led by Senators Markey and 
Hirono. Today, I just filed cloture on the motion to proceed to that 
bill. Members should expect a vote moving forward on the Right to 
Contraception Act on Wednesday.
  Federal protections for contraceptives are a critical piece of 
protecting American women's reproductive freedoms, and this legislation 
would codify the right to contraception into Federal law.
  For those who think that Federal protections for birth control are 
unnecessary, just look at what is happening at the State level. 
Republican Governors in Virginia and Nevada have already vetoed bills 
to protect birth control, and the Arizona Legislature has blocked 
similar bills too. The Federal Government should absolutely have a say 
in ensuring every American has access to birth control if they need it.
  There will be more action to come after that. Over 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.
  The erosion of freedom of choice is perhaps the defining worry for 
tens of millions of Americans since the MAGA Court eliminated Roe.
  Today, at least 20 States have near total bans or severe restrictions 
on abortion. Tens of millions of women lack access to reproductive 
care. Even services like IVF, which millions of Americans have relied 
on to have children, to start families, can no longer be assumed as 
totally safe.
  None of this happened in a vacuum. This is all a direct result of 
Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans who made the repeal of Roe their 
North Star for decades, and Republicans aren't even hiding it. Donald 
Trump, in fact, said he was ``proudly the person responsible'' for the 
disastrous Roe reversal.
  Does anyone seriously think that if Donald Trump and Republicans get 
into power again that they won't try to restrict abortion and 
reproductive care even more? Of course they will. Of course they will. 
That is why it is more important now than ever that we pass legislation 
like the Right to Contraception Act to protect this vital lifeline for 
millions of women across the country.
  This week and in future weeks, Senate Republicans will have to answer 
for their anti-abortion, anti-women agenda, and my Republican 
colleagues should know that the American people are closely watching.

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