U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) ... joined U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Patty Murray (D-WA) in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans.
Support and work to pass legislation that guarantees access to abortion nationwide and restores the right to comprehensive reproductive health care, such as the Women's Health Protection Act.
Occurrences
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – On the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)...introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans. ... 'The Women’s Health Protection Act would end this living nightmare and rightfully put women back in charge of their own bodies, their careers and their futures.'
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Patty Murray (D-WA) in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans.
"U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) ... joined ... in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans." ... "The Women’s Health Protection Act would end this living nightmare and rightfully put women back in charge of their own bodies, their careers and their futures."
On March 8, 2023, Senator Tammy Duckworth co-introduced the Women's Health Protection Act of 2023, federal legislation to guarantee access to abortion across the country and restore comprehensive reproductive healthcare rights.
We must do more to protect every person’s access to full reproductive care, which is why I’m proud to introduce this resolution with my colleagues. ...this resolution is more important than ever and would help ensure all Americans will be able to access the full range of sexual and reproductive healthcare they may need, without fear of retaliation. Specifically, the resolution: Condemns the misapplication of criminal laws to punish people for the outcomes of their pregnancies; Affirms that people deserve access to high-quality healthcare without fear of reprisal or punishment; Condemns the criminalization of providing essential healthcare; Affirms the ethical obligations of healthcare providers to safeguard patient privacy; Declares a vision for a future where access to abortion, contraception and gender-affirming care is free from restrictions and bans universally, and people are able to manage care on their own free from discrimination or punishment; and Affirms Congress’ commitment to work towards this goal in partnerships with providers, patients, advocates and their communities.
Evidence
On the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Patty Murray (D-WA) led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025, legislation to guarantee access to abortion everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans.
U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led 7 of their colleagues in introducing the Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services (ACCESS) Act, legislation which would establish a federal grant program for health care organizations to expand their capacity to provide abortion services and other reproductive care in states where it remains legal.
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), along with Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), today reintroduced the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would create a statutory right to obtain and use contraceptives and ensure health care providers have a right to provide contraceptives, contraception, and share information about this essential care.
The Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) is a federal bill that, if passed, would establish a statutory right for healthcare providers to provide, and their patients to receive, abortion care without medically unnecessary restrictions, limitations, and bans that single out abortion and impede access to care.
Assessments
Duckworth materially supported and helped advance relevant reproductive rights legislation, including co-sponsoring the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 and co-leading related measures such as the ACCESS Act. However, the promised outcome was to pass legislation guaranteeing nationwide abortion access and restoring comprehensive reproductive health care rights. The evidence shows serious legislative efforts during her Senate term, but not enactment of the Women’s Health Protection Act or an equivalent nationwide guarantee. Because the promised outcome has not been delivered, this is a failed delivery with effort credit.
Senator Duckworth co-sponsored and led multiple legislative efforts to guarantee national abortion access and restore reproductive healthcare rights, such as introducing the Women's Health Protection Act and other related bills. Despite these serious attempts, the key promise—guaranteed nationwide access to abortion—has not been delivered as the legislation did not become law.