Senate Democrats are mobilizing to protect access to contraception following recent comments by former President Donald Trump suggesting he would be open to restricting birth control. The Right to Contraception Act, led by Senators Markey, Duckworth, and Hirono, aims to safeguard the right to birth control against potential legislative attacks. This move comes nearly two years after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which has already created significant challenges for women's reproductive rights. Democrats are also pushing for the Women's Health Protection Act to restore abortion rights and address the ongoing healthcare chaos caused by Republican abortion bans. Lawmakers stress the urgency of codifying access to contraception to prevent further erosion of reproductive freedoms. The bill has been placed on the Senate Calendar under Rule XIV, with possible action expected in June.
As Republicans work to roll back reproductive freedoms one by one, it’s only a matter of time before they target birth control. My bill with @SenMarkey & @SenDuckworth protects the right for women to access contraceptives without conflict from politicians. Let's make it law.
"What they want to do is take away all of the freedoms women have been taking for granted the last several decades," Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) to @cbsnews tonight about Senate Democrats' plan to push bill to protect access to contraceptives https://t.co/jmIPzJCpdr
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are reacting after former President Trump's comments that he would be open to restrictions on contraception, with Senate Democrats quickly planning a vote on a bill that would federally protect birth control access, @MacFarlaneNews reports. https://t.co/02QjLML3rF
.@SenSchumer teed up legislation for June that would codify national access to contraception. https://t.co/8CDgmD0XyQ
It’s abundantly clear that far-right activists won’t be stopping at abortion: they’re trying to make it harder to access contraception, too. We should codify access to birth control to get ahead of these attacks.
The Dobbs decision threatened the right to birth control—yes, BIRTH CONTROL. .@maziehirono and I have legislation in the Senate to protect the right to contraception and make sure it's affordable, and we'll do everything we can to get our bills across the finish line. https://t.co/7szagilngb
The Senate has begun to consider the Right to Contraception Act led by @SenMarkey and @MazieHirono. @SenateDems will fight to protect access to contraception and other reproductive freedoms essential for millions of women to control their own lives and bodies.
Donald Trump & his MAGA anti-choice allies would not hesitate to rip away the right to birth control. Trump overturned Roe & we've seen over and over again that Republicans will stop at nothing to control women's bodies. Don't fall for his lies. We know exactly what he will do. https://t.co/b5sWqmchoN
My Right to Contraception Act with @SenDuckworth & @maziehirono will protect essential health care from right-wing attacks. Republicans don’t want it passed—but we’re not going to let them stand in our way. We’re bringing it to a vote on the Senate floor. https://t.co/E2hrnxYAGi
In just the last 24 hours, Trump opened the door to banning birth control while his allies in Louisiana voted to criminalize the abortion pill. GOP extremists are coming after our most basic freedoms. Don't look away. https://t.co/EsiPBhcloB
Unless we stop them, MAGA extremists are coming for abortion, contraception, and IVF. The right to contraception is not up for debate. Anyone who refuses to support access must explain why they believe women deserve to be second class citizens. https://t.co/PgIMUEfETJ
That didn't take long. A day after Donald Trump opened the door to restrictions on birth control, Senate Democrats have placed a bill 'to protect an individual's ability to access contraceptives' on the Calendar under Rule XIV. Look for possible action in June. https://t.co/jXd66bSqWF
Scoop: Senate Democrats plot reproductive-rights blitz https://t.co/Lz2gdEfK8P
Conservatives have long been suggesting that they want to crack down on birth control. Trump may be on board. Watch: https://t.co/c5QiNjJIRJ https://t.co/LOLKYGbOLX
The idea that politicians can tell women what kind of health care they can get is outrageous - but Donald Trump just said that he's open to letting states restrict women's access to birth control. Well I'm not. And I'm not going to back down from this fight for women's freedom.
In case you needed another reminder that Donald Trump was never going to stop at overturning Roe and banning abortion. Reality check: we're not interested in whatever anti-contraception policy you have to offer, Donald. https://t.co/OKQeApMzvh
Extreme Republicans have shown time and time again that they won't just stop at abortion. They're going after birth control too. In the year 2024, access to contraception shouldn't be up for debate. https://t.co/0MhYL7CeR4
It has been nearly two years since the conservative majority on the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, stripping women of their reproductive freedom. We must pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to restore the protections under Roe.
When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, they gutted abortion rights & jeopardized other fundamental freedoms. Now, Trump and leading Republicans are 'looking at' restricting access to birth control. Democrats are fighting to pass @RepKManning's Right to Contraception Act! https://t.co/nYvVafqmc5
They were never going to stop at banning abortion. Look: Trump is talking out of both sides of his mouth. Here he is encouraging the far right. Later, he claimed he didn’t mean it. But he can’t hide his record. And his allies still plan to restrict birth control nationwide. https://t.co/qb5Z4G8Fzu
First, President Trump went after Roe. Now, he’s ‘looking at’ contraception restrictions next. Congress must act NOW to stand up to these extremist attacks on reproductive freedom and safeguard the right to birth control with my #RightToContraception Act. https://t.co/qAfyIQzEWy
Extreme Senate Republicans remain hell-bent on telling women what to do with their own bodies – & now they want to track personal reproductive health data. This is outrageous & I will continue to fight for women's freedoms at every turn.
“Every woman, no matter where she lives, deserves the right to comprehensive reproductive care.” —@SenatorBaldwin lays out how Republican attacks on reproductive freedom after Dobbs are limiting access to critical care. https://t.co/YSPAx35HOR
Women deserve the right to access comprehensive reproductive care. Republicans' overturning of Roe is exacerbating an already dire situation for women’s care in Wisconsin. Let’s give women the freedom to control their health care. Let’s pass my Women’s Health Protection Act. https://t.co/6UMsbp7PHi
Republican abortion bans are creating health care chaos across the country—and it's only getting worse. Democrats are going to keep fighting back to restore abortion rights nationwide. https://t.co/xNKFw568ix
Republicans have created a nightmare for women who need abortion care—and their bans are putting health care providers in impossible situations. Doctors should never have to turn patients away just because politicians have tied their hands. https://t.co/dMEq2EAOoB
Extremist Republicans are ramping up attacks on reproductive freedoms, including birth control. Congress must pass my #RightToContraception Act to stand up to these attacks and protect the right to access all FDA-approved birth control. https://t.co/AGZCuwEodG
Trump and republicans are coming next for legal birth control and they aren’t hiding it https://t.co/hX7j882Sb0
When Democrats voted last session to keep birth control legal in America 96% of republicans in Congress voted no. Trump and republicans are coming next for legal birth control https://t.co/a3bRufwL0c
WATCH: @SenateDemocrats are standing with reproductive health care providers to speak out about how Republican abortion bans are creating health care chaos, harming providers, and further worsening access to care. https://t.co/d6kRbn4pZJ