The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday that would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, which would guarantee abortion access nationwide.
The Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) would codify the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationwide.
The bill would also prohibit states from imposing restrictions on abortion that are not medically necessary.The WHPA passed the House by a vote of 219-210, with all Republicans and one Democrat voting against it.
The bill is unlikely to pass the Senate, where Republicans have a 50-50 majority with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaking vote. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said that he will not bring the bill to a vote.
The WHPA is one of several pieces of legislation that Democrats have introduced in recent months in an effort to protect abortion access.
The bills are all unlikely to pass the Senate, but they are a way for Democrats to show their constituents that they are fighting for abortion rights.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule this summer on a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade.If Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortion would become illegal in roughly half of U.S. states.
The WHPA would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, which would guarantee abortion access nationwide, even if the Supreme Court overturns Roe. The WHPA is supported by a majority of Americans.
A recent poll found that 63% of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. The WHPA is opposed by anti-abortion groups.