Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer asserted on Tuesday that the upper chamber would take a vote to codify abortion rights in the wake of the leak of a draft opinion suggesting that the Supreme Court will rule to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The New York Democrat called the bombshell Politico report “dark and disturbing,” arguing the news should drive voters to support Democrats in November and adding that he feels all senators should be on the record on the issue.
“I want to make three things clear. First, now that the court is poised to strike down Roe, it is my intention for the Senate to hold a vote on legislation to codify the right to an abortion in law," he said on the floor.
"Second, a vote on this legislation is not an abstract exercise — this is as urgent and real as it gets. We will vote to protect a woman's right to choose, and every American is going to see which side every senator stands."
ROE, OUR CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM, AND DEMOCRATIC RAGE
“Third, to the American people, I say this: The elections this November will have consequences because the rights of 100 million women are now on the ballot to help fight this court's awful decision. I urge every American to make their voices heard this week and this year.”
Schumer alleged that justices confirmed under the Trump administration misrepresented their positions during the confirmation process and vowed to do everything in his power to fight back against the alleged decision.
“Under this decision, our children will have less rights than their parents. The Republican-appointed justices' reported votes to overturn Roe v. Wade will go down as an abomination. One of the worst, most damaging decisions in modern history,” he said.
“Several of these conservative justices, who are in no way accountable to the American people, have lied to the U.S. Senate, ripped up the Constitution, and defiled both precedent and the Supreme Court's reputation, all at the expense of tens of millions of women who could soon be stripped of their bodily autonomy and the constitutional rights they've relied on for over half a century.”
“The party of Lincoln and Eisenhower has now completely devolved into the party of Trump."
"Every Republican senator who supported Sen. McConnell and voted for Trump's justices pretending that this day would never come will now have to explain themselves to the American people,” he added.
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While Democrats have largely been critical of overturning Roe v. Wade, Democratic leadership faces an uphill battle in blocking the Supreme Court's decision, even if they opt to do away with the filibuster.
The Senate voted in February to block a bill to codify abortion rights, with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) joining Republicans in rejecting the measure.