6/4/2021
by BETHANY VAN KAMPEN
On May 28, President Biden fulfilled a critical campaign promise by submitting his budget without the Hyde Amendment for people enrolled in Medicaid, which for over 40 years has denied insurance coverage of abortion for people in the United States working to make ends meet. This is a historic step in the right direction and it was only made possible because of the critical leadership of women of color over the course of decades. Eliminating the Hyde Amendment from the presidential budget helps ensure that everyone in the U.S., no matter how much money they make, can make their own decisions about their future and health with dignity and respect.
Soon after he took office, President Biden committed to protect the
sexual and reproductive health and rights of people living in the U.S. and
abroad. But by removing the Hyde
Amendment from his budget but leaving in the Helms Amendment, he kept only half
of that promise.