Health Care
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Health Care
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Republicans block vote aimed at supporting abortion access |
Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked another attempt by Democrats to consider an abortion rights bill. |
Republicans blocked debate on a bill expressing support for the right to an abortion, amid a push by Democrats to put the GOP on defense over reproductive rights ahead of the November elections.
The bill needed 60 votes to move forward, meaning nine Republicans would have needed to break ranks and vote with Democrats.
The legislation was a “sense of Congress” bill that called for supporting access to abortion as well as restoring and building upon the protections enshrined in Roe v. Wade. It was sponsored by all the Democratic women in the Senate, as well as Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
“This is a plain, up-or-down vote on whether you support women being able to make their own reproductive health care decisions. It doesn’t force anything, it doesn’t cost anything, it’s actually just a half-page bill simply saying women should have the basic freedom to make their own decisions about their health care,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said on the Senate floor ahead of the vote.
Democrats want to distinguish themselves from Republicans and put the GOP on the record opposing abortion rights, especially as the latter struggles with how to message its stance on reproductive rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
The vote came on the same day House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee cleared a funding bill for the Department of Health and Human Services that contained numerous anti-abortion provisions.
But Republicans dismissed Wednesday’s action as an election year show vote and a distraction, as Democrats deal with mounting concerns over President Biden’s fitness as a candidate and whether he should remain at the top of the party’s ticket in November. |
Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, we’re Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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A human plague case has been confirmed in Colorado, local officials said Tuesday. Such cases are rare but not unheard of. A New Mexico man died from plague in March, while Oregon officials confirmed a case in February, likely linked to an infected cat. The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment said it was still investigating the source of the infection in a Pueblo County resident, and it advised people to see a … |
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The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday advanced on a party-line vote legislation that would slash funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for fiscal 2025 by $7.5 billion, or 6.4 percent, below the fiscal 2024 level. The bill cleared the committee 31 to 25 and now heads to the full House, which is scheduled to vote on it the week of July 29. The funding levels in the bill are far from final, … |
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Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) and six other states are suing to prevent the implementation of a federal rule that expands nondiscrimination rules to include transgender people. This lawsuit comes on the heels of a federal judge issuing a preliminary injunction last week against the rule in a separate federal case. “Joe Biden is once again exceeding his legal authority to force his radical transgender ideology … |
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Mind the Gap: The Cost of Mental Health Disparities | July 24 in Washington, D.C. | In person & streaming nationally This July, in honor of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, please join The Hill as we convene a diverse group of administration officials, lawmakers, medical providers and advocates to discuss the impact of mental health inequities in the United States. Speakers include: - Daniel Dawes, founding dean, Meharry School of Global Health
- Dr. Gary Puckrein, president, National Minority Quality Forum
- Daniel Gillison, CEO, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
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Dr. Patrice Harris, former AMA president
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Branch out with a different read: |
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The plague rarely affects humans, though the US sees about 7 cases a year. Here’s why |
Colorado health officials have confirmed a human case of the plague, the rare bacterial infection infamously known for killing tens of millions in 14th century Europe. Today, it’s easily treated with antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are seven human cases of plague per year in the U.S., and … |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
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NM governor rejects call from mental health care providers, advocates to cancel special session (Source New Mexico)
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Cyberattack reported at Florida Dept. of Health, death certificates on hold statewide (WFLA)
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DHHS audit of mental health agency finds millions in payments to executives, law firm ahead of merger (WUNC)
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Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets: |
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Researchers identify ‘molecular switch’ in lupus that could stymie harmful immune response (Stat)
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Stimulant users caught up in fatal ‘fourth wave’ of opioid epidemic (NPR)
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Why the election may slow plans to replace lead pipes (KFF Health News)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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A judge signaled he’ll dismiss Rudy Giuliani’s bankruptcy after a chaotic hearing Wednesday in which the judge at one point threatened to cut off the … Read more |
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George Clooney, who just last month hosted a star-studded fundraiser for President Biden’s campaign, is reversing course, saying Democrats are … Read more |
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You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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