On Thursday, the House passed the Right to Contraception Act by a 228-195 margin. It establishes the right to birth control access and drew just 8 Republican votes.
Liz Cheney (R-WY), Brain Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), John Katko (R-NY), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Nancy Mace (R-SC), Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Fred Upton (R-MI) represented the 8 yea votes from Republicans. An additional 8 of their colleagues abstained from the vote: Tim Burchett (R-TN), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Michael McCaul (R-TX), David McKinely (R-WV), Carol Miller (R-WV), and Greg Steube (R-FL).
The United Nations recognizes contraception as a universal human right. The World Health Organization includes the birth control pill, intrauterine devices (IUDs), injectable hormonal contraceptives, barrier methods, and emergency contraception on their Model List of Essential Medicines.
“We have already seen state governments attempt to restrict contraceptive methods and obstruct people’s private health care choices,” said Representative Kathy Manning (D-NC), who is sponsoring the bill. “Contraception is key to achieving gender equality, improving health outcomes for women and their families, bolstering educational and economic opportunity for all, and ensuring people are in control of their own bodies and futures.” Manning was joined by Nikema Williams (D-GA), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), and Angie Craig (D-MN) in introducing the legislation.
Political analyst Ed Kilgore expects the bill to fail in the Senate.
