Americans for Contraception’s “IUD Express tour" stopped in Albany Thursday. It’s part of an effort to push Congress to pass the Right to Contraception Act — with some powerful symbolism.

That symbolism came in the form of a 20-foot inflatable IUD in the shadow of the state Capitol. The inflatable has been making its way to cities around the country, but this was really about getting people in Albany’s attention about a battle that is taking place in Washington.

“It’s our future and we should have the freedom to make our own decisions about if and when to start a family,” said Genesis Fernandez, associate board member for the New York Birth Control Access Project.

Advocates like Fernandez gathered to urge upstate representatives to sign a discharge petition which would bring the bill to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.

“We’re residents in New York and it’s important that we advocate in our own states and our own homes, everything about legislation starts locally before it expands,” she said.

It comes after Republicans blocked similar legislation in the Senate in June.

The bill would codify a person’s right to access and a health care provider's right to provide contraception and information into federal law, and comes as the fall of Roe v. Wade has called into question Supreme Court protections when it comes to contraception and in vitro fertilization.

The goal is to get a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers to sign the petition. A quick search of the more than 200 signatures reveals the names of many of New York’s Democratic members.

Spectrum News 1 reached out to some of the Republican members of Congress who are geographically close to the capitol city and did find support for the bill in one: Rep. Marc Molinaro.

No surprise as he came out in favor of the bill back in June just before the Senate’s vote — telling Spectrum News 1 in a statement Thursday:

“I started this bipartisan coalition by becoming the first Republican to back this bill and will enthusiastically vote for it because  healthcare decisions should be between a woman and her doctor."

He did, however, hit at Democrats for using the subject as a distraction heading into November as they work to get Republicans on the record when it comes to reproductive issues, and did not address whether he would sign the petition to bring the bill the the floor.

While certainly a major topic of discussion as the election draws closer, Fernandez stressed that for her, the issue goes beyond politics.

“This isn’t just about health care. It’s about opportunity, education, and our ability to chase our dreams on our own terms,” she said.

Spectrum News 1 also reached out to other Republicans, including Reps. Elise Stefanik and Brandon Williams but did not hear back.