Duckworth, Murray, Hirono Reintroduce EACH Act To Help Guarantee Abortion Coverage For Millions Of Americans

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on March 29, 2023:

With the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and many states enacting extreme abortion bans, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA)--Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee--and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) today re-introduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act, a bicameral bill that would help guarantee abortion coverage--without restrictions--for millions of Americans. The EACH Act ends the Hyde Amendment and lifts unjust abortion coverage restrictions for those who depend on Medicaid and other government-sponsored plans or programs. In a post-Dobbs America, this legislation would help protect the right to abortion and ensure everyone can get the reproductive healthcare they need.

"Every woman in every state has a right to access the reproductive healthcare she needs--and government has no place getting in the way of that right," said Senator Duckworth. "With Roe v. Wade thrown out by the Supreme Court, Congress must take immediate action to help strengthen access to abortion coverage for low-income Americans, servicemembers and millions more--no matter their income, race or zip code. Today, I'm proud to be joined by my colleagues in re-introducing the EACH Act so we can do just that."

"Federal coverage restrictions have long put abortion care out of reach for patients with the tightest budgets. In the wake of a catastrophic Dobbs decision that ushered in extreme Republican abortion bans stripping tens of millions of women of their reproductive rights, we need to keep working to ensure that no one's ability to get the abortion care they need depends on the zip code they live in or the money sitting in their bank account," said Senator Murray. "That's why I'm proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the EACH Act to do away with harmful abortion coverage restrictions that disproportionately prevent women of color, women with low-incomes, and immigrant women from being able to get the abortion care they need."

"Everyone deserves the fundamental right to access the health care they need, regardless of their income or type of health insurance," said Senator Hirono. "For too long, the antiquated Hyde Amendment has prevented people across our country from accessing abortion care, disproportionately impacting people with low incomes, people of color, and immigrants. As we work to protect and strengthen access to reproductive care, it's past time we end the Hyde Amendment. I am glad to join Senators Duckworth and Murray in reintroducing the EACH Act to help end unjust restrictions on abortion access and help ensure people can access the care they need."

Today, abortion coverage restrictions like the Hyde Amendment impact millions of Americans--especially those struggling to make ends meet, people of color, young people and immigrants. These harmful policies make it harder, if not impossible, for patients to afford an abortion or find a local provider. Abortion coverage restrictions also compound the harms from systemic racism, economic insecurity and immigration status--ultimately denying millions of patients their constitutional right to an abortion.

Recent polling data also show that 62% of voters support lifting federal abortion coverage restrictions and believe Medicaid should cover abortion.

Along with Duckworth, Murray and Hirono, the Senate bill is co-sponsored by: U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).

U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA-13), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Diana DeGette (D-CO-01) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) introduced the House companion to the EACH Act in January. They were joined by 163 of their House colleagues.

"The attacks on our freedom haven't slowed down, but neither have we," said President of All Above All Morgan Hopkins. "Women of color continue to organize in our communities and in the halls of Congress so that no one is denied abortion coverage. The majority of people agree--it is time to end the Hyde Amendment and ensure people can get affordable abortion care without politicians interfering. We applaud Senators Duckworth, Murray, and Hirono for introducing the EACH Act today and putting us on a pathway toward abortion justice."

The legislation is endorsed by 85 organizations. A full list can be found here (https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/download/each-act-of-2023-endorsing-organizations-1).

A copy of the bill text can be found here (https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/download/230329_-each-act-bill-text).

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Original text here: https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/news/press-releases/duckworth-murray-hirono-reintroduce-each-act-to-help-guarantee-abortion-coverage-for-millions-of-americans