Senate Republicans, joined by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin (West Virginia), blocked legislation 49-51 on Wednesday intended to enshrine abortion protections into law ahead of a possible ruling this summer by a conservative-majority Supreme Court striking down the Roe v. Wade decision. Democrats fell more than 10 votes short of advancing the legislation, touted as a way to codify Roe v. Wade, which guarantees the right to an abortion, into law. It needed 60 votes to move forward. The outcome, which was expected, is likely to ramp up emotions after a leaked draft decision last week showed the Supreme Court was ready to take the historic step of overturning its landmark 1973 decision on abortion rights.
The Senate convened at 10 A.M. and is expected to consider and pass the $40.1 billion emergency funding package for Ukraine that passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support Tuesday night. Senator Rand Paul, (R-Kentucky), has raised objections to the package and wants to see an amendment to create a special inspector general to oversee Ukraine spending, similar to an office previously set up to track reconstruction aid to Afghanistan. However, the package is still expected to pass as soon as today.
The House convened at 12 P.M. and is working on H.R. 903 – Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2022 which will boost pay and bargaining power for the workforce. The House is also expected to finish work on five postponed votes under suspension of the Rules.
House and Senate members will start to hash out their differences today on a multi-billion-dollar manufacturing and innovation bill that could be one of the last major legislative accomplishments before the midterm elections. The negotiations over the final shape of the package intended to enhance US competitiveness with China are likely to touch on a wide range of subjects including computer chips, trade, immigration, and even agriculture. Over 100 members of Congress are slated to give brief opening statements at an hours-long meeting of the conference committee tasked with coming up with an agreement on a bill, H.R. 4521, known in the House as the America COMPETES Act.
