Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks As Republicans Block The Reproductive Freedom for Women Act

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the vote on the Reproductive Freedom for Women Act. Leader Schumer emphasized that Senate Republicans have voted against legislation to protect access to reproductive rights over and over again. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:

Today, Senate Republicans must answer a simple question: do they believe that women should have the right to make their own health care choices, yes or no?

The Reproductive Freedom for Women Act is exceedingly simple: all it does is express support for a woman’s right to choose. That’s it – no more, no less. It should be an easy yes vote.

My Republican colleagues have a choice—vote yes and stand with women who want their rights protected, or stand with Donald Trump and MAGA radicals who want to see those rights taken away.

We know where the American people stand on the freedom of choice: over 80% of Americans – including two-thirds of Republicans – agree that health care decisions including abortion should be between a woman and her doctor.

But Americans are rightfully worried that reproductive rights are becoming extinct in this country. They see what’s happening at the Supreme Court. They see the attacks on women’s rights in states like Texas and Florida and Alabama and Idaho and beyond.

The American people want to know where their senators stand on freedom of choice. By voting on reproductive freedoms, we are moving the issue forward, because it’s very important and very reasonable for members to be asked to take a position on such a vital issue.

If Senate Republicans genuinely trust women to make their own reproductive choices, then they should not block this bill today.

And I want to tell our Republican colleagues – the American people are watching how we vote. You can run, but you can't hide. All of America is going to know whether you're for women's reproductive rights or not by this vote. No excuses. This is it. The American people want to see who will defend their fundamental freedoms and who will not.

Again, let me thank Senator Murray for leading this bill. Let me thank every female senator on our side of the aisle for cosponsoring it along with me. We need a yes vote, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

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