Quantcast

Denver City Wire

Saturday, November 23, 2024

Degette, Lee, Chu Maneuver to Force Vote on Legislation to Restore Roe

Dd

Rep. Diana DeGette | Rep. Diana DeGette Official Website

Rep. Diana DeGette | Rep. Diana DeGette Official Website

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the nation approaches the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a trio of House lawmakers are seeking to employ a seldom used legislative tactic that could force the GOP-led House to hold a vote on a key piece of legislation that would restore every American’s right to abortion care.

With the support of Democratic leadership in the House, U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Judy Chu (D-CA) today filed a “discharge petition” that could force Speaker Kevin McCarthy to hold a vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act – a landmark piece of legislation that would restore the protections that were in place under Roe v. Wade.

“If my colleagues on the other side of the aisle aren’t willing to stand up for the people they represent, then we must,” DeGette, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, said on the House floor Wednesday to announce the trio’s decision to file the petition. “We may not have the majority in this chamber, but there is no doubt that we have the majority of Americans on our side in this fight. Now is the time to end the devastation that too many Americans have already experienced. Now is the time to let the American public know exactly where every member of this chamber stands.”

“In every election or poll since the Dobbs decision, the American people have made their support for reproductive rights clear,” said Lee, the co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. “My colleagues in Congress now have a choice: either trust your constituents to make the best decisions for themselves about their bodies, health, and lives, or go against the will of the people and continue to restrict a fundamental personal freedom. The decision to have an abortion should be between a person and their doctor—NOT politicians. The Pro-Choice Caucus is sending a message to the American people that we will not stop fighting to defend your right to make your own decisions over your bodies."

“With House Republicans beholden to their extreme MAGA members, they refuse to restore and strengthen Americans' reproductive rights,” said Chu, the prime sponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act. “I am beyond proud to work with House Democratic leadership and the Pro-Choice Caucus to offer the Women's Health Protection Act in a discharge petition to force accountability for their inaction. House Members who do not add their signature are telling Americans that they shouldn't have the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions.”

Under House rules, if a discharge petition to force a vote on a particular piece of legislation is signed by 218 members of the House, it must immediately be brought before the full House for a vote, regardless of any objections or attempts by GOP leadership to block the legislation from being considered.

In this case, if the petition DeGette, Lee and Chu filed Wednesday is signed by 218 members of the House, Speaker McCarthy and his allies would be required to immediately hold a vote on the Women’s Health Protection Act, which the House approved twice last year.

The move comes as more than one dozen states across the country have enacted laws banning or extremely limiting women’s right to access abortion services in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision last June.

If approved, the Women’s Health Protection Act would restore the protections that were in place under Roe, and nullify any state or local government’s restrictions that have been put in place to limit, or outright prohibit, patients’ access to abortion care.

Now that it’s been filed, the discharge petition introduced by DeGette, Lee and Chu will remain open for members to sign.

At any time, if the discharge petition filed Wednesday garners 218 signatures, the Women’s Health Protection Act will be called up for a vote – despite the GOP’s intent on preventing it from being considered.

Video of DeGette, Lee and Chu speaking on the House floor prior to filing the petition is available here.

Original source can be found here

ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY

!RECEIVE ALERTS

The next time we write about any of these orgs, we’ll email you a link to the story. You may edit your settings or unsubscribe at any time.
Sign-up

DONATE

Help support the Metric Media Foundation's mission to restore community based news.
Donate

MORE NEWS