May 6, 2022

Schumer Sets Another Vote on Bill Creating Federal Right to Abortion

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced Thursday that he will call a vote for the "Women's Health Protection Act" (WHPA) to take place next Wednesday. The announcement is a response to the leaked draft opinion by Justice Alito showing that the Supreme Court might overturn Roe v. Wade this summer.

The WHPA would establish a federal right to abortion until birth and specifically prevent states from enacting several other abortion restrictions. These include ultrasound requirements, mandatory waiting periods, informed consent laws, and safety regulations such as those requiring abortion businesses to maintain admitting privileges with hospitals.

Additionally, the WHPA would protect mail distribution of abortion pills, discriminatory abortions, and gruesome techniques such as dismemberment.

While the WHPA passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 218-211 in September, it failed in March to garner the 60 vote majority needed to bypass filibuster rules in the Senate. This vote is mostly a symbolic one on behalf of pro-abortion politicians.