Reintroduction of EACH Woman Act Would Revolutionize Human Rights

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- The National Council of Jewish Women issued the following statement CEO Nancy K. Kaufman on welcomes reintroduction of Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act, a measure that would lift bans that deny abortion coverage in Medicaid and other federal program and end similar interference in private health plans:

"The Trump administration and other opponents of abortion rights have managed to perpetuate bans blocking access to abortion for those covered by federal health programs since 1976 and, more recently, to weaken private insurance coverage of the procedure. In response, the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) is proud to support the EACH Woman Act -- visionary legislation to end restrictions denying abortion coverage. Every woman is entitled to make personal decisions about her health, body, family, and future regardless of how much she earns, what insurance she holds, where she lives, or any other factor.

"The EACH Woman Act, introduced in the House of Representatives and this year, for the first time, in the Senate, would enable women enrolled in Medicaid and other federal programs to access abortion care. It would require coverage of abortion for federal workers, Native Americans, military service members, and veterans, among others who access care directly from the federal government or through federally funded insurance.

"It would also bar local, state and federal governments from interfering with abortion coverage offered in the private insurance market. NCJW is deeply concerned that existing bans disproportionately harm people already struggling to make ends meet, particularly women of color, immigrants, young people, LGBTQ individuals, and transgender and gender nonconforming individuals.

"In addition to safeguarding a woman's health and economic security, the EACH Woman Act affirms every woman's autonomy and religious liberty, enabling each woman to make her own decisions about her health according to her own beliefs and circumstances. No single religious view should be enshrined into law in order to deny coverage."

The bill is led by Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) as well as Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).