Just 2 Pennsylvania Republicans Voted in Favor of Contraceptive Rights Bill

The Right to Contraception Act passed the US House despite seven of Pennsylvania’s GOP representatives voting against it. The bill would protect the right to contraceptives through federal law.

Only two Pennsylvania Republican congressmen crossed party lines and voted in favor of the Right to Contraception Act, which passed the US House of Representatives Thursday by a vote of 228-195.

Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (Bucks) and Mike Kelly (Butler) were the lone Pennsylvania Republicans voting in favor of the act.

Amid concerns that the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade could jeopardize other rights criticized by many conservatives, Democrats argued intensely in favor of protecting the right to contraceptives in federal law. Republicans claimed the bill is unnecessary.

While the Right to Contraception Act easily passed the House with a Democratic majority, it is likely to stall in the evenly split Senate, where it would need 10 Republican votes to pass. 

The contraception bill explicitly allows the use of contraceptives and gives the medical community the right to provide them, covering “any device or medication used to prevent pregnancy.” Listed examples include oral contraceptives, injections, implants like intrauterine devices, and emergency contraceptives, which prevent pregnancy several days after unprotected sex.

The bill lets the federal and state government, patients, and health care providers bring civil suits against states or state officials that violate its provisions.

Last month, in his concurring opinion in overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas said other rulings similar to Roe, including those around same-sex marriage and the right for couples to use contraception, should be reconsidered.

Who Voted Against the Right to Contraception Act?

• John Joyce (R-Blair) 
• Fred Keller (R-Snyder) 
• Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne) 
• Scott Perry (R-York) 
• Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny)
• Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) 
• Glenn Thompson (R-Centre)

Full Pennsylvania Congressional Roll Call 

• Brendan F. Boyle (D-Philadelphia) Yea
• Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) Yea
• Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) Yea
• Michael F. Doyle (D-Allegheny) Yea
• Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) Yea
• Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) Yea
• Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) Yea
• John Joyce (R-Blair) Nay
• Fred Keller (R-Snyder) Nay
• Mike Kelly (R-Butler) Yea
• Conor Lamb (D-Allegheny) Yea
• Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne) Nay
• Scott Perry (R-York) Nay
• Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny) Nay
• Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware) Yea
• Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) Nay
• Glenn Thompson (R-Centre) Nay
• Susan Wild (D-Lehigh) Yea