Planned Parenthood Applauds Reintroduction of EACH Act — a Critical Bill to Support Abortion Access
For Immediate Release: Jan. 26, 2023
WASHINGTON — Today, Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), Diana DeGette (D-CO-1), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9) reintroduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act, an essential bill to guarantee health coverage for abortion no matter how much money a person makes, the type of insurance they have, or where they live.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
“Abortion is health care, and how much money you make, where you live, or how you’re insured should not determine your ability to control your own body.
“But for more than four decades, the racist, discriminatory Hyde Amendment has blocked people with low incomes from using their health insurance coverage for abortion. Because of structural racism and discrimination, barriers to sexual and reproductive rights — such as the Hyde Amendment — disproportionately harm Black people, Latino, and Indigenous people, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We continue to be grateful to the champions of sexual and reproductive health care in Congress for continuing to take action to support abortion access. Our partners in reproductive justice are leading this fight, and we are proud to join them in this vital work. The time to act is now, and Congress must do so.”
The EACH Act would overturn the discriminatory and racist Hyde Amendment, which blocks people with Medicaid from using their health insurance coverage to get an abortion. Similar restrictions block people in other federal government funded programs, including active-duty military, veterans, Indigenous people, and government employees, from using their insurance to pay for an abortion. The EACH Act also stops Congress from interfering with private insurance companies that cover abortion.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.