Schumer Eyes Votes on Right to Contraception Act

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is planning action on a series of bills regarding access to contraception and other reproductive technologies. In a “Dear Colleague” letter to senators yesterday, Leader Schumer noted that the Senate will vote on a bill that seeks to create a right to access contraception. Noting that “there will be more to come” following this vote, it is expected that Senate Democrats will look to move a package of bills pertaining to contraception and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) during the week of June 10. According to intel from Capitol Hill, this four-bill package will include: a measure from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) to provide a statutory right to access reproductive technology; legislation from Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) to cover IVF for service members and veterans; a bill from Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) regarding IVF insurance coverage; and Sen. Duckworth’s Family Building Fairness Act to ensure federal coverage of assisted reproductive technology. For today, the Senate will hold a procedural vote on Christopher Hanson’s nomination to be a member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.