Bowling Green Today

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), along with 20 other Republican Senators, issued a joint statement criticizing Senate Democrats for advocating the Right to Contraception Act. The senators argue that this legislation misleads the public regarding contraception accessibility and poses a threat to religious freedoms and parental rights.

The bill, initially passed by the Democrat-controlled House in 2022 under Nancy Pelosi, is now being revived by Senate Democrats. The Senate is expected to vote on the act this afternoon.

"There is no threat to access to contraception, which is legal in every state and required by law to be offered at no cost by health insurers," the statement reads. "It’s disgusting that Democrats are fearmongering on this important issue to score cheap political points. This bill infringes on the parental rights and religious liberties of some Americans and lets the federal government force religious institutions and schools, even public elementary schools, to offer contraception like condoms to little kids."

The statement was signed by Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Ted Budd (R-NC), James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Katie Britt (R-AL), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), John Thune (R-SD), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Steve Daines (R-MT).

Additionally, Dr. Paul has collaborated with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) in introducing the Allowing Greater Access to Safe and Effective Contraception Act aimed at promoting access to safe and effective contraception for women and families.