Democrats seek to increase pressure on Republicans by forcing vote on abortion access
Cami Mondeaux
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House Democrats are hoping to force their GOP counterparts into a tough position next week by introducing a discharge petition to advance legislation that would protect access to abortion nationwide.
A group of Democrats plans to file the petition sometime next week to advance the Women’s Health Protection Act, utilizing an increasingly common mechanism used by Democrats to trigger a floor vote even without the support of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). Party leaders are seeking to use that vote to put vulnerable Republicans in an uncomfortable position, especially those running in districts won by President Joe Biden in 2020.
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The effort is being led by Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA), the co-chairwomen of the Pro-Choice Caucus, as well as the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), a spokesperson confirmed to the Washington Examiner. The House passed the bill last year after the reversal of Roe v. Wade, with lawmakers seeking to codify abortion access before fetal viability.
The measure failed to pass the then-evenly divided Senate.
“The trio has been working closely with Democratic leadership to make the legislation a priority to help countless Americans who are suffering as a result of the GOP abortion bans that are now in place in several states across the country,” a spokesperson for DeGette said. “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.”
Under House rules, lawmakers can use a discharge petition to move a bill to the floor for consideration without committee approval if the legislation has been introduced and referred to a standing committee for at least 30 days. To do so, lawmakers must get a majority of the House — in this case, 218 members — to sign a petition to consider the bill on the floor.
That means if all Democrats sign on to the discharge petitions, the party would only need signatures from five Republicans to bring the legislation to the floor. The bill is unlikely to garner that support as no Republicans voted for the measure when it was brought to the floor last summer.
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However, Democrats are likely to use that vote as campaign fodder against Republicans running in districts that are supportive of abortion rights. Abortion emerged as a major topic during the midterm elections, which many in the party credit for their better-than-expected performance.
“In addition to the 211 members who have already signed on to the legislation, DeGette, Lee, and Chu are hoping there are, at least, six Republicans who will be willing to listen to the people of their district and help restore their right to reproductive care,” DeGette’s office said.