Rep. Chu Moves to End Hyde Amendment with EACH Woman Act

Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) joined more than seventy Members of Congress to increase access to safe, legal abortions for millions of women by supporting the introduction of the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH Woman) Act. This bill protects a woman’s access to comprehensive healthcare by allowing for coverage for abortion services in public health care programs. The bill also prohibits federal, state and local governments from restricting coverage in private health insurance markets. Rep. Chu released the following statement:

“For too many decades, the federal government has unfairly kept millions of low income women from accessing the healthcare they deserve by limiting their family planning decisions. This attack on poor women is an attack on all women. By denying federal insurance coverage of abortion, the Hyde Amendment puts access out of reach for so many. The EACH Women Act would roll back Hyde once and for all. That’s why we’ll push this bill until all women, regardless of their income, the type of insurance they have, or the state they reside in, can make personal health decisions based on what is best for her and her family.”

The EACH Woman Act would bring an end to the Hyde Amendment – a legislative provision that withholds funds for the use of abortion in publicly-funded programs, unless in cases of rape, incest or where a women’s life is in danger. Hyde disproportionately affects poor, minority communities. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Diana DeGette (CO-01) and co-sponsored by 70 other Members of Congress.