The New York congresswoman calls for stronger action after Biden backs a filibuster exception to protect abortion access.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has praised President Joe Biden for signalling his support to alter the filibuster in order to protect abortion rights, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Biden’s remarks came on the final day of a NATO summit in Madrid. The president, who served as a senator for 36 years, expressed his shift in position on the filibuster in the wake of the Supreme Court’s historic ruling. “We have to codify Roe v. Wade into law,” he said, outlining that Congress should take action, even if it means bypassing the filibuster. “If the filibuster gets in the way, we should provide an exception for this action to address the Supreme Court decision,” he added.
The filibuster, a procedural tactic requiring a 60-vote threshold to overcome, has long been a barrier for passing legislation in the Senate. While Democrats currently hold 50 seats, Vice President Kamala Harris can cast a tiebreaking vote, meaning they fall short of the 60 votes typically needed. Moreover, moderate Democrats, such as Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, have consistently opposed changing the filibuster rules, making it more difficult to pass sweeping reforms.
In response, Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most vocal members of the progressive faction of the Democratic Party, voiced her approval of Biden’s remarks, tweeting, “Now we’re talking! Time for people to see a real, forceful push for it. Use the bully pulpit. We need more.”
Democratic senators are now facing the crucial challenge of retaining their majority in the upcoming midterm elections, while also hoping to add more seats to make filibuster reform a reality. The ultimate goal is to pass legislation that would protect abortion access and enshrine Roe v. Wade protections into law. In May, Senator Manchin joined Republicans in blocking the Women’s Health Protection Act, a key piece of legislation aimed at safeguarding abortion rights, effectively halting its progress.
Ocasio-Cortez’s comments reflect the growing frustration among progressives, who have long called for stronger action to protect reproductive rights and ensure federal protections against state-level restrictions. With Biden’s endorsement of a filibuster exception, the debate over abortion rights and Senate procedural rules is poised to intensify in the months ahead.
