NARAL Statement on Reintroduction of the EACH Woman Act

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- NARAL Pro-Choice America issued the following news release:

Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and more than 100 cosponsors reintroduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health (EACH) Insurance Woman Act, which would eliminate the discriminatory Hyde Amendment and curb political interference in health-care decisions. NARAL President Ilyse Hogue released the following statement in support of the bill:

"The introduction of the EACH Woman Act is a welcome return to real American values after a week of unprecedented attacks on our equality, freedom, and dignity. By abolishing the discriminatory Hyde Amendment, this bill will help make sure that all women, regardless of income, race, or zip code, have coverage of abortion, a vital medical service that women need access to in order to determine our own futures and the course of our lives. NARAL and our 1.2 million member-activists are proud to stand with the sponsors of this bill and to continue our fight to protect and expand reproductive freedom."

The EACH Woman Act makes a long-needed change for women and their families, creating two important standards for reproductive health:

* First, it respects that every woman should be able to make her own decisions about pregnancy. If a woman gets her health care or insurance through the federal government, she will be covered for all abortion-related care.

* Second, it prohibits political interference with decisions of private-health insurance companies to offer coverage for abortion care. Federal, state and local legislators will not be able to interfere with the private-insurance market to prevent insurance companies from providing abortion coverage.

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