House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., joined from left by Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., holds a news conference just before a House vote on legislation aimed at guaranteeing a woman’s right to an abortion, an effort by House Democrats to circumvent a new Texas law that has placed that access under threat, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The US House of Representatives has passed legislation to protect women’s rights to health care.
WASHINGTON — The US House of Representatives has passed a bill called the Women’s Health Protection Act that would protect and expand access to abortion care in the US. Now, it’s the Senate’s turn to decide if abortion care should be considered “essential to health care.”
The vote was almost along party lines; Rep. Henry Cuellar from Texas was the only Democrat to vote no.
What is the Women’s Health Protection Act?
The Women’s Health Protection Act would protect a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion before fetal viability.
It would prohibit states from passing anti-abortion laws and protect healthcare providers’ right to provide abortion services.
The act seeks to restore reproductive justice by addressing the gender oppression and racism that result from abortion restrictions.
Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) introduced the bill. All nine Pennsylvania House Democrats cosponsored the bill, and voted for it.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced a companion bill, S 1975, in the Senate in June. The Senate has yet to take action on it.
This bill was first introduced in 2013, when Republicans controlled the House. This is the most support it has received.
Who Voted Against it in Pennsylvania?
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks)
- John Joyce (R-Blair)
- Fred Keller (R-Snyder)
- Mike Kelly (R-Butler)
- Dan Meuser (R-Luzerne)
- Scott Perry (R-York)
- Guy Reschenthaler (R-Allegheny)
- Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster)
- Glenn Thompson (R-Centre)
The Full Pennsylvania Roll Call
- Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia) Yea
- Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna) Yea
- Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) Yea
- Mike Doyle (D-Allegheny) Yea
- Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) Yea
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) Nay
- Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester) Yea
- John Joyce (R-Blair) Nay
- Fred Keller (R-Snyder) Nay
- Mike Kelly (R-Butler) Nay
- 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
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