Target: Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Goal: Protect abortion rights in the USA.
House Democrats recently introduced a crucial bill targeting a controversial provision obstructing abortion access to US citizens. The Hyde Amendment, passed in 1976, restricts insurance coverage, including Medicaid, to access reproductive care. Prominent House Democrats led a group of 163 representatives to introduce the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH) Act. Reintroduced for the fifth time, this vital bill could be a groundbreaking policy defending women’s rights in the US. Removing the Hyde Amendment could potentially ensure that women from all walks of life acquire the benefits of accessible health care. The amendment particularly affects abortion access for people under Medicaid, Medicare, Native Americans, military members, incarcerated citizens, and federal employees.
Representative Barbara Lee denounced the Hyde Amendment as ‘discriminatory and racist.’ She was joined by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Chair of the Pro Choice Caucus’ Abortion Rights and Access Task Force. The proposed EACH act protects the constitutional right to abortion, especially for women of color. She called on her colleagues to utilize all resources for ‘dismantling the systems of oppression,’ blatantly pursued by the Republican party. She also emphasized that the time has come to ensure that women have the confidence to access healthcare without ‘shame, punishment, or financial ruin.’
All Above All, a national abortion rights organization, applauded this bold move by Democrats. Morgan Hopkins, President of All Above All, stated that the Hyde Amendment has stood up as a major obstacle for decades even with Roe v. Wade. She also said that passing the critical EACH Act could be a vital milestone on the ‘pathway to abortion justice.’
The reproductive rights debate in the US is at a watershed moment, with anti-abortion groups tacitly using the pro-life motive to justify their narrative. By supporting the petition below, you can let the House of Representatives know that you demand uninhibited access to abortion rights in America.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Speaker McCarthy,
Top Democrats in the House recently introduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Healthcare (EACH) Act. Reintroduced for the fifth time, the EACH Act aims to ensure affordable rights to abortion for low-income groups. It targets the Hyde Amendment, passed in 1976, deemed as an obstacle to reproductive freedom for US women. Dismantling the Hyde Amendment could prove to be a milestone achievement in ensuring a more inclusive social fabric.
The United States of America stands at a crucial juncture with women demanding complete autonomy over their bodies. It is the duty of every concerned citizen to stand by this powerful movement and do all in power to support the transition.
We urge you, Speaker McCarthy, to assert the center stage in this important moment, and do everything you can to ease the passage of this bill.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra
