WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has failed vote in an effort toward enshrining Roe v. Wade abortion access into federal law.
Wednesday's 51-49 negative vote almost along party lines provided a stark display of the nation’s partisan divide over the landmark court decision and the limits of legislative action.
The afternoon roll call promised to be the first of several efforts in Congress to preserve the nearly 50-year-old court ruling.
President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass legislation that would guarantee the constitutional right to abortion services after the disclosure of a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.
But Democrats in the split Senate lacked the votes to overcome a Republican-led filibuster.
After the vote, President Biden said, "This failure to act comes at a time when women’s constitutional rights are under unprecedented attack – and it runs counter to the will of the majority of American people."
Before the vote took place, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer acknowledged that the vote would likely fail. However, he said he wants lawmakers to go on the record on the issue.
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said Wednesday that he would oppose his party's bill because he believes it's too broad.