Overnight Health Care: Democrats plot response to Texas abortion law

Welcome to Thursday’s Overnight Health Care, where we’re following the latest moves on policy and news affecting your health. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup.

NBA players in New York City and San Francisco will need to be vaccinated in order to play during home games. It’s not a league rule, technically — it’s city ordinances. The NBA does not have a vaccine mandate for its players, but it’s lately been finding ways to make sure they get the jab even without one. 

The House plans to vote on a bill that would protect access to abortions as a counter move to the Supreme Court’s decision to decline to block the Texas “fetal heartbeat” law. Democrats are plotting their next move, but without the votes in the Senate, options are limited.

For The Hill, we’re Peter Sullivan (psullivan@thehill.com), Nathaniel Weixel (nweixel@thehill.com) and Justine Coleman (jcoleman@thehill.com). Write to us with tips and feedback, and follow us on Twitter: @PeterSullivan4, @NateWeixel and @JustineColeman8.

Let’s get started.

House to vote on bill guaranteeing abortion access in response to Texas law 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that the House will vote upon its return to Washington later this month on legislation to guarantee access to abortion after the Supreme Court refused to block a restrictive Texas law that bans most abortions.

Late Wednesday night, the court issued a 5-4 ruling denying an emergency request from abortion providers to block the Texas law, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the three liberal justices in dissent. 

Pelosi said that after the House returns to session on Sept. 20, the chamber will vote on a bill from Rep. Judy ChuJudy May ChuStudy finds more than 9,000 anti-Asian attacks took place since March 2020 Omar reflects on personal experiences with hate in making case for new envoy Omar leads lawmakers in calling for US envoy to combat Islamophobia MORE (D-Calif.) to statutorily protect a person’s ability to seek an abortion and for health care providers to provide abortion services. She called the Texas law “a flagrantly unconstitutional assault on women’s rights and health” and a “catastrophe.” 

But the Senate is a pretty big barrier to such a bill becoming law: Given that Senate Republicans would likely filibuster any House-passed bill to guarantee abortion access, the legislation faces steep hurdles to becoming law despite narrow Democratic majorities in both chambers and a like-minded president.

Across the Capitol, the Senate companion bill to Chu’s legislation has the support of 48 Democrats. Two Democratic senators, Joe ManchinJoe ManchinProgressives push Senate Democrats to nix filibuster ahead of voting rights fight Progressives launch campaign to exclude gas from Congress’s clean electricity program  AFL-CIO chief warns of election consequences for pro-filibuster Democrats MORE (W.Va.) and Bob CaseyRobert (Bob) Patrick CaseySenate Democrats seek to overhaul nursing home industry Senate Democrats press administration on human rights abuses in Philippines Biden celebrates anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act MORE (Pa.), have not signed on as co-sponsors.

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