Democrats on Capitol Hill are moving to address Texas's abortion ban with legislation codifying abortion rights into law.
Texas on Wed. enacted the nation's strictest ban on abortion, prohibiting the procedure after six weeks of pregnancy.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law in May. SCOTUS on Thu. voted 5-4 to deny a motion to block the ban. (NBC)
Roe v. Wade protects the right to an abortion up to 24 weeks. Texas's new ban could overturn the decision. (NBC News)
Now, Democrats are moving to pass legislation to codify Roe v. Wade into law, asserting abortion as essential health care.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thu. that she would bring the Women’s Health Protection Act up for a vote after the recess.
Pelosi: "Upon our return, the House will...enshrine into law reproductive health care for all women across America."
What is the Women's Health Protection Act? The law would create federal protections against state abortion bans. (NBC News)
Rep. Judy Chu introduced the bill in 2020 alongside Sen. Richard Blumenthal. The bill has 48 sponsors in the Senate. (AP)
The bill will likely face a dead end in the Senate, where Republicans are expected to launch a filibuster against the bill.
Some Democrats have called to abolish the legislative filibuster, which requires 60 votes to pass filibustered legislation.
Democrats would need a simple majority to abolish the filibuster. Two holdouts? Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema.
Other Democrats have called to add four seats to the Supreme Court, which currently has a 6–3 conservative majority.