Battle over reproductive rights reignites in Senate
Jan 22, 2025
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- President Donald Trump promised on the campaign trail to veto a federal abortion ban, but Democrats warn there are already efforts underway to get the country closer to that point.
"'Leave it to the states.' Out the window," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on what would have been the 52nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade Wednesday. "Mr. President Trump, this is the national level. You're already involved, and you're breaking your promises."
House and Senate Republicans are pushing a bill this week to require health care providers to try to save the life of an infant in the rare case the baby is born alive during or after an attempted abortion.
"It's a simple bill," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, (R-S.D.).
"Those innocent lives deserve to be protected," said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, (D-Wash.) stressed it is already illegal in the U.S. to intentionally kill a baby that is born alive.
"Republicans are still peddling debunked lies about how abortion works and the people who get them," Murray said.
More than 140 congressional Republicans also sent a letter to President Trump asking him to expand on what they call "life-affirming pro-life policies."
"The next step, I hope, is for President Trump to issue executive orders that will put back in place his policies from his first term," said U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).
Hawley signed the letter and recently introduced a bill to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.
"They should not be able to get taxpayer money to do that," Hawley said.
U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Minn.) who called herself the first and only pro-choice OBGYN in Congress, urged Republicans to remember who elected them.
"Voters across the country have shown that they want to preserve a woman's right to access the health care that she needs," Morrison said.
The Trump administration also removed the reproductive rights page from the official White House website.