President Joe Biden condemned Republicans on Wednesday for blocking the passage of the radically left-wing Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill that would codify Roe v. Wade and massively expand abortions in the United States.
Democratic lawmakers needed 60 votes to move the legislation forward. As expected, they fell more than 10 votes short on Wednesday.
“Once again – as fundamental rights are at risk at the Supreme Court – Senate Republicans have blocked passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill that affirmatively protects access to reproductive health care,” Biden said.
The president called Republican blocking of the bill a “failure to act,” claiming that it runs “counter to the will of the majority of American people” — though polling repeatedly shows that most Americans do not support unlimited and late-term abortions.
“Republicans in Congress – not one of whom voted for this bill – have chosen to stand in the way of Americans’ rights to make the most personal decisions about their own bodies, families and lives,” Biden continued.
“To protect the right to choose, voters need to elect more pro-choice senators this November, and return a pro-choice majority to the House,” the president said. “If they do, Congress can pass this bill in January, and put it on my desk, so I can sign it into law.”
The Women’s Health Protection Act would have effectively prohibited the government from reducing the number of abortions taking place and to repeal any laws already on the books that would potentially inhibit access to abortion.
But Biden said Wednesday that the legislation would ensure “the health, safety, and progress of our nation.”
“While this legislation did not pass today, my Administration will not stop fighting to protect access to women’s reproductive care,” he said. “We will continue to defend women’s constitutional rights to make private reproductive choices as recognized in Roe v. Wade nearly half a century ago, and my Administration will continue to explore the measures and tools at our disposal to do just that.”