FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 29, 2021

MEDIA CONTACT

Sarah Garfinkel, sgarfinkel@westendstrategy.com; 202-765-4290

National Council of Jewish Women Applauds House Vote to End Restrictions on Medicaid Abortion Access

WASHINGTON – National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) celebrates today’s passage of a Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill in the House of Representatives without the Hyde Amendment, which would deny abortion coverage to those enrolled in federal health plans and programs. NCJW CEO Sheila Katz issued the following statement:

“Today, for the first time in decades, the US House of Representatives has passed a spending bill that does not ban Medicaid insurance coverage of abortion through the immoral Hyde Amendment. This historic victory for reproductive freedom sends a clear message: it is time to eradicate barriers to abortion care. All people deserve to make their own decisions about their future and health with dignity and economic security.

“We are incredibly grateful to Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) as well as women of color across the country who have led the fight to end Hyde for over 40 years.

“Since 1976, the Hyde Amendment has pushed time-sensitive, essential abortion care out of reach for countless Americans struggling to make ends meet, disproportionately harming Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities; young people; people living with disabilities; rural communities; immigrants; and LGBTQ individuals. This policy is a painful example of how systemic racism permeates our federal laws and regulations and how factors like economic insecurity and immigration status multiply barriers to abortion care. Government interference with abortion coverage jeopardizes the health and lives of pregnant people, pushing people into poverty and forcing them to carry unwanted pregnancies to term. When people can make decisions that are best for their lives, women, children, families and communities thrive.

“As Jews, we are morally obligated to seek justice and fair treatment for all, particularly for the most marginalized and oppressed among us. Ending the Hyde Amendment is a matter of reproductive justice, of economic justice, of racial justice. We thank the House of Representatives for taking a decisive step in this direction and urge our lawmakers to pass the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act (HR 2234/S 1021) to guarantee coverage of all pregnancy-related care, including abortion, in federal health plans and programs.”

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National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is a grassroots organization of 200,000 volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children, and families and by safeguarding individual rights and freedoms. Through a program of education, community service, and advocacy, our advocates across the country create lasting social change on our key issues of the federal courts; reproductive health, rights, and justice, and voter engagement. More information on Facebook and on Twitter at @NCJW.