US Senate to Vote on Bill Codifying Roe v. Wade

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer scheduled a cloture vote for a bill that would codify Roe v. Wade into law. It was passed last fall by the House of Representatives. If passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Biden, this legislation would force every state to allow abortion with virtually no restrictions.

The deceptively-titled Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) would establish a federal right to perform and obtain abortions. This right would extend past the point that the child could survive outside of the mother's womb. Additionally, the bill would prevent states from enforcing ultrasound requirements, waiting periods, informed-consent requirements, bans on discriminatory abortions (based on a child's race, sex, or disability), and other safety regulations.

President Biden has already voiced his support for the WHPA, but the legislation is likely to face a significant challenge in the Senate. To pass the WHPA, pro-abortion politicians would need to garner enough votes to bypass the Senate's 60-vote filibuster threshold. This means that every Democrat and at least ten Republicans would need to vote for the WHPA.

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