Kaine Statement After Senate Republicans Block Bill Expressing Support for Reproductive Health Care Access

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked passage of a bill to express support for protecting access to reproductive health care following the Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which struck down abortion protections:

“It’s been two years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and it’s more urgent than ever that we protect reproductive freedom. That’s why I voted today to reaffirm the need to protect access to abortion, contraception, and other reproductive health care services, including IVF. I’m disappointed that most of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have refused to stand up for Americans’ freedom to make their own health care decisions without government interference. But I will continue working to pass my bipartisan Reproductive Freedom For All Act to protect access to abortion and contraception.”

A majority of Americans disapprove of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, and nearly seven in ten Americans want federal action to protect abortion access. A majority of women in the U.S. have used contraception at some point during their lives. 

Kaine has long championed efforts to protect reproductive freedom. After the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, Kaine worked across the aisle to introduce the Reproductive Freedom For All Act, a bipartisan bill to protect access to abortion and contraception. Last month, Kaine voted to pass the Right to Contraception Act and Right to IVF Act, but both bills were blocked by Senate Republicans.

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