[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 103 (Tuesday, June 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on MAGA extremism in terms of abortion, 
yesterday, 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 every woman Senator on our side of 
the aisle.
  This measure affirms a woman's fundamental right to choose and calls 
for enshrining the protections of Roe into law, as most Americans say 
they want. I will work with my colleagues to bring it to the floor as 
soon as possible.
  As we approach the 2-year anniversary of Roe v. Wade being 
overturned, this month could have been a month when the Senate came 
together to protect Americans' reproductive freedoms. This could have 
been a month when both sides came together to pass commonsense 
legislation protecting reproductive care like contraception and IVF. 
This could have been a month when we put to rest the worries of the 
millions of women across America enduring attacks on their reproductive 
freedoms in the aftermath of Roe. But instead, June has been a dismal 
month for MAGA Republicans and their attacks on women, families, and 
reproductive rights.
  In the last 2 weeks, Senate Republicans have shown that, for all 
their attempts to sound moderate on reproductive care, when it comes 
time to vote, they choose MAGA extremism over the wishes and desires of 
the American people. When Republicans blocked Federal protections for 
contraception a few weeks ago, they chose MAGA extremism over the 
American people. When Republicans blocked Federal protections for IVF a 
few days ago, they chose MAGA extremism over the American people.
  And when Donald Trump continues, to this day, to brag about working 
with Senate Republicans to confirm three hard-right Supreme Court 
Justices to eliminate Roe, that is choosing MAGA extremism over the 
American people.
  Republicans cannot run away from a basic truth. That is why, when we 
return, our bill to make sure that Congress ensures the right to 
choose, the right to an abortion, will be before the Senate for a vote. 
Republicans cannot run away from a basic truth: Their record on women's 
healthcare is outright abysmal; it is shameful; and it is dangerously 
out of step with the views of most Americans.

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