Senate Fails to Pass Bill Enshrining Roe v. Wade as Law of the Land

The Senate failed to pass a bill that would have made Roe v. Wade the law of the land, marking a significant setback for Democrats in their efforts to enshrine a national right to abortion. The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 was defeated by a narrow margin of 49-51, with Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia joining every Republican in opposition.

Manchin, a Democrat, cited concerns about the bill being an expansion of abortion rights rather than a codification of existing law. Despite the bill’s expected failure, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer framed the vote as a way to hold senators accountable for their stance on abortion in the wake of a leaked Supreme Court opinion that could overturn Roe v. Wade.

Polls show that a majority of Americans support abortion rights, and Democrats hope to leverage the issue in the upcoming midterm elections. President Joe Biden criticized Republicans for obstructing the bill, while Republicans argued that the legislation went too far in guaranteeing abortion rights.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut introduced the bill, which aimed to protect abortion rights nationally and prevent states from passing restrictive laws. Although Democrats lacked the votes to overcome the filibuster, they hoped that the leaked Supreme Court decision would increase the urgency of the vote.

Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, Republicans who support abortion rights, voted against the bill and introduced their own legislation that they believe strikes a better balance on the issue. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell suggested that a nationwide abortion ban is possible if the Supreme Court decision stands.

The next steps for Democrats on the issue remain unclear, but Schumer vowed to continue fighting for abortion rights. The failure of the bill underscores the deep divide in Congress on the issue of abortion and sets the stage for further battles in the future.