How Did My Representatives Vote?
Since the fall of Roe v Wade, the case that guaranteed your right to an abortion, our rights have taken hit after hit after.
It can feel like a lot, but knowledge is power.
So, we put together this handy guide to let you know who is voting against your rights, over and over again.
No one is coming to save us. It’s up to us to save ourselves.
We’re going to hold those responsible accountable.
Your Right to Marriage Equality
Your Right to Contraception
Combating Human Trafficking
Capping the Cost of Insulin
Addressing the Baby Formula Shortage
Increasing Access to Mental Health Care in Schools
Increasing Food Security for Veterans
Supporting Families of
9/11 Victims
Your Right to Abortion
Your Right to Marriage Equality
The Respect for Marriage Act (H.R. 8404)
Protecting marriage equality is even more urgent since the fall of Roe. This bill does just that by repealing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. Replacing it with federally protected rights and recognitions for marriages of same-sex and interracial couples.
Why is this urgent? Because when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his opinion that the Court should also reconsider cases like Obergefell v. Hodges using the same legal argument.
This means that the Supreme Court could overturn court rulings that protect marriage equality, just as easily as they overturned our right to access abortion.
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Your Right to Contraception
The Right to Contraception Act (H.R. 8373)
Many of us take for granted how accessible contraception is, but since the fall of Roe, extremists have made it clear that birth control is next. This bill protects your right to access contraceptives, and your doctors right to prescribe them to you.
The Right to Contraception Act passed in the House, despite 195 Republicans voting against it. It was then blocked in the Senate by Republican Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).
Why is this urgent? When the Supreme Court recently overturned Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his opinion that the Court should also reconsider Griswold v. Connecticut — the 1965 U.S. Supreme Court case to first recognize a constitutional right to contraception.
We’d also like to point out (especially to the 195 Republicans who voted against our right to contraception) what research makes clear … that access to contraception is a key factor in reducing abortion rates.
If Republicans truly want to help reduce abortion rates, why would they vote against this bill?
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Combating Human Trafficking
The Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022 (H.R. 6552)
This isn’t even a new program! This bill simply reauthorizes funding for various federal programs that already work to combat human trafficking and prevent exploitation of trafficking victims.
These programs have been funded with bipartisan support since 2000. Its reauthorization was passed again by Congress this year.
It isn’t entirely clear why these 20 Republicans voted against it, however it should be noted that one of them, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), is himself currently under federal investigation for sex trafficking allegations involving a minor.
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Capping the Cost of Insulin
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (H.R. 5376)
This was a huge bill signed into law that will do several things to reduce our federal deficit, fight inflation, lower our personal healthcare and energy costs, expand Medicare, create jobs, fight climate change, help families and small businesses, and more. However, in negotiating its provisions, 43 Senate Republicans voted against including a $35 cap on insulin prices for patients with private insurance.
About seven million Americans take insulin daily to manage their diabetes, and insulin costs eight times more in the U.S. than it does in 32 other high-income nations. The insulin cap is a broadly popular idea with voters. To us, it seems like voting to lower costs and improve the health of constituents would be a good idea for Senators, especially in an election year but these 43 Republicans must have other priorities.
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Addressing the Baby Formula Shortage
Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 7790)
Okay, so technically this happened before the fall of Roe, but it is too important not to talk about here.
Earlier this year, the U.S. was facing a nationwide shortage of baby formula. This was a scary and stressful time for mothers across the U.S. who felt helpless and desperate to ensure that their babies had adequate nutrition.
The House introduced this bill to provide emergency funding to the FDA to address the formula shortage, to help prevent future shortages, and to make sure that dangerous, fraudulent products did not enter the U.S. market. While the bill passed the House, 192 Republicans voted against it.
How can they be for government controlled pregnancy and against ensuring infants are safely fed?
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Increasing Access to Mental Health Care in Schools
The Mental Health Matters Act (H.R.7780)
205 Republicans voted against a bill to increase mental health care access in schools. Read that again. 205.
That might come as a shock considering it has become routine for Republicans to point the finger at “mental health” instead of guns anytime there is a mass shooting.
Trust us, we are just as confused.
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Increasing FOOD SECURITY FOR VETERANS
The Food Security for All Veterans Act (H.R. 8888)
Sadly, our Veterans have a much higher risk of experiencing food and housing insecurity than the rest of us. This bill would establish an Office within the Department of Veterans Affairs to combat that, yet 49 Republicans voted against the bill.
Veterans and their families make so many sacrifices for our country. Why don’t these Republicans support a program that would help Veterans meet one of their most basic needs?
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Supporting families of 9/11 Victims
The Fairness for 9/11 Families Act (H.R.8987)
The families of 9/11 victims suffered unthinkable losses. Because of that, previous laws have guaranteed that they receive federal funds as compensation. Some of that funding has not been fulfilled, so this bill authorizes catch-up payments to fulfill what is owed to these 9/11 families. It’s pretty straightforward to make good on a promise that has already been made, so why didn’t these 30 Republicans?
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Your Right to Abortion
The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755)
The fall of Roe v. Wade removed our constitutionally protected right to abortions. It was the first time in U.S. history that the Supreme Court took away a fundamental right from a group of Americans. By doing so, it leaves it up to individual states to pass laws to protect or restrict abortions. 22 states now have abortion bans.
Months before the decision to overturn Roe was delivered, a draft opinion of the case was leaked to the public, so we had a hint of what was to come. In response, Democratic leaders in Congress advanced this bill to federally protect our right to have an abortion, and our medical professional’s right to provide an abortion. This federal protection would override any state abortion bans. The bill passed in the U.S. House but not in the Senate. In total, 257 Republicans in Congress voted against it.
We need to elect a Democratic majority in the Senate in order to pass this bill and federally secure our right to abortions.
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With midterm elections this November, it is important to know how your Representatives are voting, and if their votes are in your best interests. We hope this guide helps you make that choice!