Amid Unprecedented Attacks on Women’s Health, Shaheen Calls on Senate to Swiftly Consider Legislation to Codify Access to Contraception

Shaheen cosponsors legislation in the Senate that would codify the fundamental and constitutional right to contraception

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed legislation that would codify the fundamental and constitutional right to contraception, urging Senate leadership to follow suit. Shaheen is a cosponsor of companion legislation in the Senate – the Right to Contraception Act – which would achieve the same goal.

“As Republicans in Washington and Concord wage war on women’s freedom and reproductive health, Democrats are prepared to use every tool at our disposal to safeguard women’s personal health decisions. This legislation would safeguard women’s access to contraception so that the right to decide when and how to start a family stays in women's hands,” said Shaheen. “Republicans have made it clear that they are coming for contraception in a concerted effort to strip women of their reproductive rights following the disastrous reversal of Roe v. Wade. Democrats can leave no stone unturned in defending women’s health – I urge Senate leadership to put this bill on the floor so the American people can see where their lawmakers stand on trusting women to make their own health decisions.”

Senator Shaheen is a fierce advocate for women’s reproductive health. Earlier this week, she and Senator Hassan announced their support for legislation that would protect funding for Planned Parenthood and family planning centers through the Title X program. Last week, Shaheen participated in a roundtable discussion at Lovering Health Center about services still available to women following the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade, and her ongoing efforts to safeguard women’s reproductive freedom. Shamefully, Senate Republicans blocked the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act on the Senate floor this afternoon.

Shaheen long sounded the alarm about what was at stake for women’s freedoms and reproductive health in New Hampshire if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In May, Shaheen spoke on the Senate floor to urge lawmakers to vote in favor of legislation that would have codified Roe. In March, Shaheen joined Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra in Manchester for a meeting with New Hampshire family planning providers amid continued attacks from State and congressional Republicans. For years, Shaheen has fought to expand coverage of women’s preventative care, including through her legislation to reduce the cost of contraception for servicewomen and dependents in military families.

###