Senate Democrats take final crack at abortion bill on floor ahead of November

Senate Republicans blocked Democrats from advancing a resolution aimed at ensuring access to emergency health care, including for abortions, as Democrats keep their messaging centered on reproductive rights ahead of November.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) attempted to pass the resolution, which was introduced last week, via unanimous consent. She argued it was necessary after ProPublica reported a delay in emergency abortion care led to Amber Nicole Thurman’s death in 2022.

“We need to send a very clear message on this,” Murray said. “The Senate needs to speak with one voice and tell the American people, ‘Yes, we want to make sure your doctor can save your life.'”

Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) blocked the request and argued that the Democratic claim is incorrect and doctors across the country, despite the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, are able to perform emergency care no matter the situation.

“Every physician prior to the Dobbs decision, when there were limitations to abortion across the country, and post-Dobbs decision, when every single state is making those decisions, allowed physicians in an ER to be able to make lifesaving decisions for the mother and the child. Every doctor has already the ability to be able to make that decision to be able to protect the life of the mother,” he said.

“They have the protections to be able to do that,” Lankford continued. “So this is a false claim that somehow that what happened in the Dobbs decision and what’s happening in states is limiting that. It’s actually the political rhetoric that’s making people afraid.”

Minutes later, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) attempted to pass a bill of her own that would offset abortion costs for women seeking abortion care. That unanimous consent request was blocked by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.). 

The moves mark the latest attempt by Senate Democrats to highlight reproductive rights in recent months. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) held a vote last week to cement access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and mandate coverage of the practice by insurance companies. Republicans blocked it, arguing it was a “show” vote and politically motivated. The vote happened after former President Trump called for IVF treatments to be covered by government or insurance via a mandate. 

He also held votes over the summer on abortion care, contraception and an earlier vote on IVF access. 

Schumer held the votes Tuesday, with the stopgap government spending package set to hit the floor at some point Wednesday and tie up action until the end of the week.