Oregon’s Democratic senators have criticized a vote by Republicans to block a bill that would guarantee women’s access to reproductive rights, among other things. The Senate vote Monday, Feb. 28, was 46 in favor and 48 against, far short of the 60 required to cut off debate on legislation (HR 3755) that the House passed on Sept. 24.
The bill in question, the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), would do the following:
- Prevent governments from limiting provider’s ability to prescribe certain drugs, offer abortion services via telemedicine, or immediately provide abortion services when the provider determines a delay risky to the patient’s health.
- Prevent governments from requiring a provider to perform unnecessary medical procedures, provide medically inaccurate information, comply with credentialing or other conditions that do not apply to providers whose services are medically comparable to abortions, or carry out all services connected to abortion.
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley said in a statement:
“Politicians have no place in your bedroom or exam room. Period.”
“The freedom to be in control of your own body is an essential freedom. I believe in a society where everyone—regardless of the color of their skin, gender, zip code, or income—has the same right to high-quality health care. Here in America, everyone should have the same right to make medical decisions about their own body, and to access the care they need—including reproductive care—free from political interference. It is crucial that medical decisions are made by individuals and whomever they may choose to consult—not by extremist politicians.”
“With Roe v. Wade under assault from the Supreme Court, passing the Women’s Health Protection Act is an urgent and necessary step forward in our fight to protect Americans’ reproductive freedoms. Unfortunately, today, Republicans in the Senate blocked debate and decided they, and state politicians, should be the ones to make Americans’ health care decisions.”
“Today’s vote is not the end of our fight. I will continue to work at this until we successfully protect access to the full scope of reproductive health care.”
Senator Ron Wyden said:
“By failing to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, the Senate has decided that the government should come between a woman and her doctor. Roe v. Wade was decided almost 50 years ago, and yet in too many states, reproductive freedom is under attack. Today the Senate had the opportunity to cement the right to an abortion into federal law so that every American can access an essential service to control their bodies and their futures. I will keep fighting for access to safe, legal abortion, which is a critical part of health care.”
By Ethan Hauck
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