SW News: Ahead of the US Supreme Court ruling on the Dobbs v Jackson Case, a federal bid to pass an abortion rights bill has once again failed in the Senate. On Wednesday, May 11, the Senate voted against advancing the Women's Health Protection Act, which calls for codifying abortion rights into federal law. The legislation was defeated 49-51 with Democratic Senator Joe Manchin also voting against it. In February, a similar bill was defeated by the same margin.

Following the failure of the bill, Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty, implored the Congress to stop pushing abortion as an end to the misery of women and young girls.

A statement issued by the prelates stated, "More than 60 million unborn children have already lost their lives to abortion, and countless women suffer from the physical and emotional trauma of abortion. This radical bill would add millions more to that tragic toll."

We are relieved that the Senate vote to advance this bill failed for the second time in less than three months,” the prelates said in the statement.

Blaming Senate Republicans for the defeat of the legislation, President Joe Biden said, "Fundamental rights are at risk at the Supreme Court." Had it been passed, SB 4132 would have retained the nationwide statutory right to abortion, overriding prohibitions introduced by states. It would also repeal many curbs, such as parental notification for young girls and informed consent, and health or safety regulations unique to abortion facilities at the federal, state, and local levels.

It would have also compelled all American taxpayers to fund abortion. In addition, health care practitioners would be forced to perform, assist in, or recommend the termination of pregnancy, despite their firmly held convictions. It is also likely to mandate employers and insurance firms to cover or pay for abortion.

While surveys indicate that many Americans support the Roe v. Wade decision, they simultaneously support limits on abortion. At least 26 states are likely to ban abortion if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v Wade, which legalized the termination of pregnancy across the nation in 1973.