With the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade and the contentious Alabama ruling on IVF, concerns over reproductive rights in the U.S. are on the rise. Access to birth control, a fundamental right established by the Supreme Court in 1967, is now under threat from anti-abortion groups. A recent survey found that 1 in 5 adults believe contraception is in danger, with less than half feeling it is secure.
In response to these fears and to make a stand on a critical election-year issue, Democrats reintroduced the Right to Contraception Act. The bill aims to safeguard access to contraception, but it failed to pass in the Senate with a 51-39 vote falling short of the 60-vote threshold needed to defeat a filibuster.
The Right to Contraception Act would establish a federally protected right to obtain contraceptives and engage in contraception voluntarily. It would also protect healthcare providers who offer contraception services. Despite the 1965 Supreme Court decision in Griswold v. Connecticut protecting the right to contraception, Democrats and many Americans fear that this ruling may be challenged in the future.
The bill did receive majority approval but ultimately did not pass due to insufficient votes. Republicans argued that the bill was unnecessary and merely for show, labeling it an overreach that didn’t provide exceptions for conscience or create mandates. While the Right to Contraception Act didn’t succeed, birth control remains legal nationwide under current laws.
Democrats are using the failed bill as a platform to showcase Republican opposition to contraception rights, highlighting the issue as a key factor in the upcoming presidential election. Despite the setback, the conversation around reproductive rights continues to be a critical one in American politics.
