The House of Representatives on July 21 passed legislation to protect access to contraceptives after Supreme Court (SCOTUS) Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that precedents guaranteeing contraceptive access as a right should be reconsidered.
The bill, called the “Right to Contraception Act,” passed in a 228-195 bipartisan vote.
Eight Republicans, including Reps. Liz Cheney (Wyo.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), John Katko (N.Y.), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Nancy Mace (S.C.), Fred Upton (Mich.), and Maria Elvira Salazar (Fla.) joined all chamber Democrats in supporting the measure. An additional two Republicans, Reps. Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) and Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), voted present.
Following the vote, Mace, who supported the bill, openly expressed her support for the measure, suggesting that she supported it because of restrictive abortion laws in South Carolina that do not consider exceptions to abortion access….