The Senate on Wednesday used a procedural vote to quash efforts to codify protections for accessing contraception, part of a flurry of legislative activity in advance of the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined Democrats in voting to move forward on a bill that would guarantee the ability for health care professionals to provide contraception and related information. The bill would also guarantee the rights of individuals to access contraception.
The Senate needed 60 votes to advance the legislation; the final vote was 51-39. Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., voted no in order to be able to bring up the bill under Senate rules at a later date.
