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 promoting the Right to Contraception Act. The senators argue that this legislation misleads the public about contraception accessibility and threatens religious freedoms and parental rights.

The bill, initially passed by the Democrat-controlled House in 2022 under Nancy Pelosi's leadership, is now being revived by Senate Democrats. A vote on the act is expected 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," stated the senators. "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."

Senators joining Paul and Scott in signing the statement include 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).

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