Democrats aim to intensify pressure on Republicans through a vote on abortion access.

House Democrats Push for Nationwide Abortion Protection

House Democrats are taking a bold step to protect access to abortion nationwide. They plan to introduce a discharge petition next week, aiming to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act. This strategic move is designed to put pressure on vulnerable Republicans, especially those in districts won by President Joe Biden in 2020.

The effort is being led by Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), co-chairwomen of the Pro-Choice Caucus, along with Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), the bill’s sponsor. The House passed the bill last year after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, seeking to codify abortion access before fetal viability.

Despite its passage in the House, the measure failed to gain support in the evenly divided Senate. However, Democrats are determined to make this legislation a priority, aiming to counter the GOP abortion bans in several states.

Restoring Protections and Ensuring Women’s Rights

“The Women’s Health Protection Act, which was approved by the House twice last Congress, would restore the protections that were in place under Roe v. Wade by codifying a nationwide right to abortion care. Poll after poll shows that more than two-thirds of the country supports women’s right to abortion care,” said a spokesperson for DeGette.

Using a discharge petition, lawmakers can bypass committee approval and bring a bill to the floor for consideration. To do so, they need a majority of the House, which is 218 members, to sign the petition. If all Democrats support the petition, they would only need five Republicans to join them.

However, gaining Republican support is unlikely, as no Republicans voted for the bill in the previous floor vote. Nevertheless, Democrats plan to use this vote as campaign leverage against Republicans in districts that support abortion rights.

Abortion rights emerged as a significant topic during the midterm elections, contributing to the Democratic Party’s better-than-expected performance. Reps. DeGette, Lee, and Chu hope to find at least six Republicans who will prioritize the voices of their constituents and restore their right to reproductive care.