House passes 'Right to Contraception Act'

The House on Thursday passed the Right to Contraception Act that attempts to create a federal right to obtain birth control, following the Supreme Court recently striking down the Roe v. Wade case that for decades provides a constitutional right to abortion.

The vote in the Democrat-controlled chamber was 228-195. Most Republicans voted against the bill while just eight voted in favor of it.

"I support contraception. I’ll be voting NO on the 'contraception bill' today," Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz tweeted. "Contraception likely needs protection FROM congress more than it needs protection BY congress. If there is any entity you don’t want involved in your contraception choices - it’s the federal gov."

House Majority Whip Steny Hoyer said the Republicans' lack of support for the bill was part of an extremist agenda. 

"Days after 157 House Republicans voted against codifying the right to #EqualMarriage for same-sex and interracial couples, they are at it again: voting to advance their far-right, extremist agenda that would criminalize access to reproductive health care in all 50 states," he tweeted.

The Republicans who voted "Yea" were Reps. Liz Cheney (Wyoming), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), John Katko (N.Y.), Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), Adam Kinzinger (Ill.), Nancy Mace (S.C.), María Elvira Salazar (Fla.) and Fred Upton (Mich.)

In a separate concurring opinion on the Roe decision, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the high court should reconsider its decision on contraception and same-sex marriage.