President Joe Biden delivered a speech focused on abortion rights at a Democratic National Committee event on Tuesday (Picture: REX)
President Joe Biden has promised to codify abortion rights if Democrats keep control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.
Biden made the vow at a Democratic National Committee event on Tuesday, more than three months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade and the federal right to abortion.
‘The court got Roe right nearly 50 years ago and I believe the Congress should codify Roe, once and for all,’ said Biden from the Howard Theatre in Washington, DC.
‘If we do that, here’s the promise I make to you and the American people: The first bill I will send to the Congress will be to codify Roe v Wade.
‘And when Congress passes it, I’ll sign it in January, 50 years after Roe was first decided the law of the land.’
Biden urged Americans to recall how they felt when the Supreme Court issued its decision in June.
‘I want you to remember that the final say does not rest in the Court now. It does not rest with extremist Republicans in Congress. The final say about your right to choose… rests with you,’ he said.
‘And if you do your part and vote, Democratic leaders in Congress I promise you will do our part. I’ll do my part.’
Democrats hold a slight majority in the House of Representatives and barely control the Senate which is 50-50, because Vice President Kamala Harris can cast tie-breaking votes.
Even if Democrats keep their majority in the Senate, it could be difficult for the chamber to pass a bill codifying abortion rights because 60 out of 100 senators must vote in favor of it.
Some Democrats have pushed for abolishing the Senate filibuster which requires the 60-vote majority, but the effort has not garnered enough support.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday said that Biden would back a carveout of the filibuster change to codify Roe v Wade. But she did not comment on what Biden would do if Democrats to not keep control of Congress.
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‘The first bill I will send to the Congress will be to codify Roe v Wade,’ President Joe Biden said.