Rep. Lee: “43 Years Later, We Must Reclaim Roe”
Oakland, CA – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee released this statement marking the 43rd anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision that ensured women could make their own personal healthcare choices:
“In 1973, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Roe v. Wade and guaranteed every woman’s Constitutional right to reproductive healthcare, including access to safe and legal abortion.
Despite this hard won victory, the GOP’s ideological war on women has systemically restricted women’s rights to make the healthcare decisions that are best for them and their families.
Make no mistake, these extreme restrictions have hurt women and their families, driving many into poverty and denying them fundamental reproductive freedoms.
But we are fighting back to protect women’s rights. Forty-three years later, we must reclaim Roe.
Last year, I proudly led more than 70 of my colleagues in introducing the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act or the EACH Woman Act (H.R. 2972). This bill would ensure health coverage of abortion for every woman, regardless of her income, how she is insured or where she lives.
Today, more than 100 Members of Congress have co-sponsored this important legislation that ensures politicians cannot interfere with a woman’s personal healthcare decisions just because she is poor, a veteran or a government employee. On the 43rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, it’s past time to be bold and end the Hyde Amendment. ”
BACKGROUND
Polling conducted by Hart Research found that eighty-six percent of voters agreed that “however we feel about abortion, politicians should not be allowed to deny a woman’s health coverage because she is poor.” Support was strong across age ranges and the statement won the support of seventy-nine percent of Republican surveyed. More than half of those surveyed expressed support for a bill similar to the EACH Woman Act.
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.