A bill that would have codified abortion rights into federal law was defeated in the Senate on Wednesday.
Senators voted 49-51 to defeat the bill, with one Democrat, West Virginia's Joe Manchin, joining Senate Republicans to block it – far short of the 60 votes needed to end a Republican filibuster.
The bill was never expected to go through the Senate. However, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer brought up the bill a week after a leaked Supreme Court draught judgement indicated the high court will likely overturn Roe v. Wade in an attempt to raise awareness of the issue before of the 2022 midterm elections.
After the vote, Schumer, D-N.Y., stated, "The vote we just took makes obvious the disparity between the parties as we approach the midterm elections." "If you want to see a woman have control over her own body, elect more pro-choice Democrats...." If you want to see a nationwide ban on abortion and physicians and women imprisoned, elect more MAGA Republicans.
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at the Senate vhote on Wednesday, echoing Schumer's plea for more Democrats to be elected in November.
Republicans in the Senate said their opposition to the bill stemmed from Democrats' "radical" proposals for abortion access.
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, head of the Senate Republican Conference, said, "Today I voted to protect life." "Democrats have declared their support for limitless, on-demand abortions until the moment of birth once again. Wyoming taxpayers, regardless of their personal values, would have been forced to finance abortions nationally under the Democrats' extremist bill."
The vote on Wednesday was mostly symbolic, with MPs putting their names to the issue before of the November elections, which will determine which party controls the House and Senate.
Kamala Harris, Vice President
After the vote failed to clear the Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to the press. (AP)
A handful of Democratic House members marched across the Capitol's second floor, from the House to the Senate, shortly before the vote on Wednesday.