Return to the Latest

US Senate Fails to Pass ‘Women’s Health Protection Act’

Posted
Press Releases, Health Care, National

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2022
Contact: Juan Ramiro Sarmiento
(785) 760-6567 | JuanRamiro.Sarmiento@younginvincibles.org

US Senate Fails to Pass Women’s Health Protection Act

Senators Were Unable to Overcome the Filibuster and Staunch Opposition to Abortion Access

(Washington, DC) – Today, the U.S. Senate failed to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) in a 49-51 vote, blocking debate on the floor. The legislation would enshrine abortion access into federal law.

This legislative push comes in the wake of the unprecedented U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion leak. It is clear a majority of Justices are prepared to end a 49-year-old precedent and the constitutional right to abortion by striking down Roe v. Wade.

While abortion is still legal and remains a constitutional right, 26 states are certain or likely to ban abortion without Roe. This means that in roughly half of the country people will no longer have power over their own bodies and their own lives.

In response, Kristin McGuire, Executive Director for Young Invincibles issued the following statement:

“Today’s failure to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act illustrates the precarious situation the nation faces. This represents a crisis moment.

To be very clear, abortion remains legal. But the urgency of now calls for bold action to safeguard hard-fought fundamental rights. Young Invincibles was founded on the fight for health care access for all young adults – blocking and restricting access to abortion for young people goes against the root of our mission.

Young people need access to the full range of reproductive health care – and that includes abortion. Blocking access to abortion will have ripple effects for years. The lack of access to legal and safe abortions will overwhelmingly and disproportionately harm Black and Brown people, immigrant folks, and all those who can least afford it. We know abortion bans exacerbate inequities, but the truth is overturning Roe v. Wade will affect us all.

Abortion is health care. Abortion is economic security. Abortion is self-determination.

Members of Congress must get to work on a solution for safeguarding abortion rights once the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Today’s failed vote is simply unacceptable as the end of the effort to enshrine federal protections for abortion rights.”

###