Rep. Ayanna Pressley has just introduced a crucial proposal to remove the Hyde Amendment from a major federal appropriations bill and ensure that abortion care is accessible for all.
The Hyde Amendment, inserted decades ago by ultra-Catholic Rep. Henry J. Hyde, restricts federal funding for abortion, rendering women on Medicaid ineligible for abortion coverage even if the procedure is recommended by a doctor or if the pregnancy compromises the woman’s health.
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Hyde’s long history of anti-choice legislation was vocally driven by his fear of “God’s punishment.” He said:
“I believe in a merciful God, I believe in a just God, and I would be terrified at the thought of having to explain at the final judgment why I stood unmoved while Herod’s slaughter of the innocents was being reenacted here in my own country.”
This rule is plainly based on Hyde’s own dogmatic religious beliefs and abandons the safety and autonomy of some of the most vulnerable Americans. Please contact your representative and urge them to support Rep. Pressley’s amendment and remove the Hyde Amendment from the current appropriations bill.
