House set to vote on bill to protect access to birth control in latest answer to Supreme Court

Washington — The House on Thursday is poised to vote on legislation that would protect access to birth control, part of a broader effort by Democrats to enshrine into federal law rights they fear could come under threat by the Supreme Court following its decision to wipe away the constitutional right to an abortion.

The Democratic-led House is expected to clear the bill, called the Right to Contraption Act, though it's unclear whether it will garner bipartisan support. If enacted into law, the measure would create a statutory right for people to access birth control and protect a range of contraceptive methods, as well as ensure health care providers have a right to provide contraception services to patients.

"We are not willing to play defense on this critically important issue," Rep. Kathy Manning, a Democrat from North Carolina who sponsored the measure, said during a press conference Wednesday. "We are playing offense."