Biden to vow that first bill of next Congress will legalize abortion if Democrats pick up seats

President Biden is expected to say Tuesday that if the American people elect more Democratic senators and keep the House in November, the first bill he will send to Congress will codify Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortion access across the country, according to a Democratic official. And the president would sign the bill around the 50th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. 

Mr. Biden will mention this goal during a Democratic National Committee speech at Howard Theatre in heavily Democratic Washington, D.C. 

But obtaining enough Democratic support in Congress is a high hurdle. The president already has majorities in both chambers of the Capitol but lacks the 60 votes needed in the Senate to get the legislation passed. And it's likely to become even more difficult after the midterm elections — there are no major pollsters who currently project Democrats will maintain control of the House.