The U.S. Senate is holding a vote next week to codify abortion rights into federal law. The efforts face deep opposition from Republicans and could still fail even though Democrats control both the House and Senate — partly because conservative Democrats Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona continue to oppose changing the filibuster. Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York spoke Thursday in support of abortion rights.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: “I do not think that 50% of America should be told that they have to put their bodies at risk of life or death without their consent. It is barbaric. It is inhumane. It is unacceptable. And I hope every human being in this country understands that when you take away a woman’s right to make her decisions about her health and well-being, she is no longer a full citizen. She no longer has freedom. She no longer has bodily autonomy. She no longer has basic civil rights or civil liberties. That is what this decision would do in America today.”