The latest Democratic bill focused on women and reproduction might have a shot at winning over some Republicans.
On Thursday Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., introduced legislation that focuses on expanding access to birth control and other health services and improving care for women. While it does contain a provision calling for a study of abortion clinic closures, the bill is mainly focused on health measures that could draw support from some in the GOP.
“I am confident that over the process of this we will get some bipartisan support,” Murray said. “This legislation is very focused on how we can make sure we empower women in the 21st century.”
That hasn’t been the case with similarly-oriented bills touted last summer by Senate Democrats. In July, Senate Republicans blocked a Murray bill that would have bypassed the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby ruling by requiring employers to provide workers with contraception coverage.
Also last summer, a Senate panel held a hearing on a far-reaching bill from Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., that would have blocked state and local laws regulating abortion clinics.
The bill Murray introduced Thursday — dubbed the 21st Century Women’s Health Act — contains birth control provisions that could cause some cross-aisle tensions. But it also contains multiple provisions that could be less controversial. And it avoids expanding access to abortion, which would be a sure poison pill for Republicans.
The legislation would establish a training program for nurse practitioners who already provide primary care for millions of Americans. It would encourage states to create committees to examine pregnancy-related deaths. And it would launch a public awareness campaign encouraging women to get mammograms and immunizations.
The bill would have to win over Republican support if it were to pass in the GOP-led House and Senate.
