(5 Jun 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
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POOL
Washington – 5 June 2024
1. Wide of Chuck Schumer walking in
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader:
"Okay, thank you everybody. And today, of course, Senate Republicans had the chance to vote to protect a key personal liberty, access to contraception. Senator Markey’s bill is simple. But it’s becoming necessary ever since the MAGA Supreme Court and Donald Trump overturned Roe and jeopardized reproductive rights for millions and millions of Americans. Today, thanks to these brutal and downright medieval attacks, tens of millions of Americans have to worry about something as basic as birth control. Make no mistake, Americans’ uncertainty about using birth control is one of the many shameful consequences of overturning Roe v. Wade. So for those Republicans who voted no today, claiming that contraception isn’t being threatened and is safe, I have two questions for you: what about the influx of efforts all across the country trying to make it more difficult to access contraception? And also, after years and years of being told that Roe would be protected, is this a gamble any of us should be willing to take?"
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3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader:
"So make one thing clear, today was not a show vote. This was a show us who you are vote. And Senate Republicans showed the American people exactly who they are. They showed that they’re not willing to stand up and protect something that 92% of Americans support. The Right to Contraception Act simply says if you want to access birth control, or if you’re a health care provider wanting to prescribe birth control, the government has no right to interfere."
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4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader:
"It’s utterly unacceptable for Americans to even question whether or not birth control should fall at risk. So I want to assure the American people, we Democrats will not stop. We will keep fighting. We will not rest until vital protections like those outlined in the Right to Conception Act are enshrined into law. And that’s why, just a few minutes ago, I filed cloture on the IVF (In vitro fertilization) bill. So next week, Americans can once again see where Republicans stand on the so very important issue of the right to reproductive rights."
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STORYLINE:
Senate Republicans have blocked legislation designed to protect women’s access to contraception, arguing that the bill was just a political stunt as Democrats mount an election-year effort to put GOP senators on the record on reproductive rights issues,
The test vote won a 51-39 majority, but that was well short of the 60 votes to move ahead on the legislation.
It came as the Senate has abandoned hopes of doing serious bipartisan legislation before the election.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his Democrats are trying to instead spotlight issues they believe can help them win the presidency and keep the Senate in November.
A similar vote on ensuring nationwide access to in vitro fertilization is expected next week.
It is also expected to fail in the Senate, where 60 votes are needed to move forward.
The effort comes as Democrats worry that reproductive rights will be further threatened after the Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to an abortion two years ago and as they continue to see that access as one of their most potent election-year issues.
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