[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 102 (Monday, June 17, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                   REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR WOMEN ACT

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, a few moments ago, I took the first 
procedural step to place on the legislative calendar the Reproductive 
Freedom for Women Act, sponsored by Senator Murray and myself and 
cosponsored by all the women Senators on our side. This measure affirms 
a woman's fundamental right to choose and calls for enshrining the 
protections of Roe v. Wade into law, as most Americans say they want.
  I thank Senator Murray and all of my colleagues who cosponsored the 
Reproductive Freedom for Women Act, and I will work to bring it to the 
floor.
  We are only halfway through June, but it has already been a dismal 
month for MAGA Republicans and their attacks on reproductive freedoms. 
In the last 2 weeks, Senate Republicans have shown that, for all their 
attempts to sound moderate on reproductive freedom, when it comes time 
to vote, they are falling in line with MAGA extremists.
  This month, Senate Republicans have already blocked legislation 
protecting commonsense reproductive care, like contraception and IVF, 
as the Acting President pro tempore knows well. House Republicans, 
meanwhile, voted overwhelmingly on Friday to pass the Defense funding 
bill, with hard-right poison pills restricting access to reproductive 
care for our servicemembers.
  And Donald Trump, while speaking to Republicans on Capitol Hill last 
week, once again attacked the decision of Roe and said abortion should 
be left to the States, even if States pass terrible restrictions on 
women's freedoms, as is happening all over the country.
  Republicans cannot escape a simple reality: Their record on women's 
healthcare is dangerously out of step with the views of most Americans. 
Poll after poll affirms that a majority of Americans disapproved of the 
Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe.
  So I will say it again: So many Senate Republicans and so many House 
Republicans will try to talk like moderates on reproductive freedoms, 
but their own record is irrefutably against them. And when it comes 
time to vote, they vote against women and reproductive freedoms over 
and over again. The American people know that when it comes to 
protecting their fundamental freedoms, actions speak louder than words.
  Republicans can't claim to be pro-contraception but then block 
Federal protections for contraception. But that is just what they did a 
few weeks ago.
  Republicans can't also claim to be pro-family but then block Federal 
protections for IVF. But, once again, that is just what they did a few 
days ago.
  Remember, Donald Trump, to this day, continues to brag about his role 
in eliminating Roe, aided by Republicans in this Chamber who voted to 
confirm not one, not two, but three hard-right Supreme Court Justices 
with the goal of overturning Roe.
  Make no mistake. The MAGA extremists aren't done. If they get the 
chance, they will push for their ultimate goal of a national abortion 
ban.
  Many Republicans say a national abortion ban is plain old 
fearmongering. But, remember, these same Republicans weren't even able 
to stand up to the MAGA right long enough to support a simple IVF bill. 
Do we really trust them to resist the MAGA right when it pushes a 
national abortion ban? Of course, not.
  With November fast approaching, Republicans continue to show the 
American people where they really are: with MAGA extremists and not 
with the majority of America. That is what Republican Senators and 
House Members are doing.

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