The House voted on a pair of bills aimed at restoring abortion rights nationwide in Democrats’ first legislative response to the Supreme Court’s landmark decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 passed the House with a vote of 219-210 and is an updated version of a bill the House passed in September
The bill has little chance of becoming law because it lacks sufficient support in the 50-50 Senate. Yet voting marks the beginning of a new era in the debate as lawmakers, governors, and legislatures grapple with the impact of the court’s decision. Republicans spoke forcefully against the bills, praising the Supreme Court’s decision and warning that the legislation would go further than Roe ever did when it comes to legalizing abortion. Washington Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers called abortion “the greatest human rights issue of our generation.”
Since the court’s ruling last month, some activists have accused Mr. Biden and other top Democrats of failing to respond forcefully enough to the decision. The president, who denounced the court’s ruling, issued an executive order intended to head off some potential penalties that women seeking abortion may face. His administration has also warned medical providers that they must offer abortion if the life of the mother is at risk. However, Mr. Biden has stressed that his ability to protect abortion rights by executive action is limited, and it’s up to Congress to provide nationwide protection.
