History shows that the First Amendment should protect abortion

Antiabortion activists have long sought to prevent this.

Perspective by Rachel Kranson
May 12, 2022

A leaked opinion revealed that the Supreme Court is potentially poised to reverse the long-standing legal precedent that established a constitutional right to abortion under the 14th Amendment’s right to privacy. That has left champions of abortion rights wondering about other legal avenues that could ensure reproductive freedom. Might the Constitution guarantee abortion access as a First Amendment, religious right?

Many Americans are surprised by the notion that a religious tradition could permit or even mandate the termination of a pregnancy. They assume all religions endorse the conservative Christian view that life begins at conception, rendering abortion akin to murder.

Continued: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/05/12/first-amendment-could-save-abortion-rights/

12.05.2022

14th Amendment

American Civil Liberties Union

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby

First Amendment

Henry Hyde

National Council of Jewish Women

National Right to Life Committee

Rachel Kranson

Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

religious freedom

Religious Freedom Restoration Act

right to privacy

Roe v. Wade

U.S. Supreme Court

USA – Why Congress must abolish the most destructive abortion restriction ever passed

By KATHRYN KOLBERT AND JULIE F. KAY
JUNE 5, 2021

Three years after the Supreme Court legalized abortion in Roe vs. Wade in 1973, Congress made it significantly harder for low-income women to access the procedure by passing the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal Medicaid funding for abortions. It was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1980 — and remains in effect.

In our view it is the most destructive abortion restriction ever passed.

Continued: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-06-05/biden-hyde-amendment-budget-abortion

My patients shouldn’t have to fight this hard for an abortion. Will Biden get in the ring?

I deliver my patients' babies when needed, and perform their abortions when needed. Thankfully, my state treats all health care like health care.

Dr. Katherine Brown, Opinion contributor
Mar 7, 2021

I walk into the room and greet my patient with a smile. Six months earlier, I delivered her first baby by cesarean section after a long labor.

“How are you?” I ask. She assures me that she is doing fine, her daughter is thriving. She quickly takes out her phone and flips through a few recent photos. She smiles at me and tells me that she is just not ready for another baby. My patient is pregnant again and has made the decision to have an abortion. Just as I did when I delivered her daughter, I strive to hold a space of dignity and respect. I hold space for her and her emotions. I recognize that for her, she is making a difficult decision, but is doing so out of love and compassion.

Continued: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2021/03/07/pro-choice-abortion-hyde-amendment-obgyn-biden-harris-column/4592699001/

07.03.2021

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Opinion

barriers to abortion access

Democrats promise Biden-era abortion showdown over Hyde Amendment

The decades-old measure, named after an Illinois GOP lawmaker, limits the use of federal funds.

Dec. 27, 2020
by Sahil Kapur

WASHINGTON — House Democrats have spent two years passing government funding legislation without picking a fight over abortion, but with President Donald Trump leaving office, party leaders say 2021 will be different.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who is set to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee, said next year the House will eliminate the so-called Hyde Amendment, a decades-old policy that prohibits federal programs like Medicaid from paying for abortions.

Continued: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/democrats-promise-biden-era-abortion-showdown-over-hyde-amendment-n1251619

27.12.2020

How the Hyde Amendment Hearing Can Affect the Future of Abortion Rights

Reproductive rights and justice organizations weigh in on the historic House hearing.

BY CHELSEY SANCHEZ
DEC 9 2020

Over the course of more than four decades, Congress has annually renewed the Hyde Amendment, a highly controversial measure that reproductive rights activists say keeps abortion inaccessible to marginalized communities. That could all change, however, as the House Appropriations Committee held a historic, virtual hearing yesterday on the disproportionately negative impacts of the amendment.

Simply put, the Hyde Amendment broadly bars federal funding for abortion costs, meaning Medicaid recipients—who overwhelmingly come from communities of color or low-income communities—lack abortion coverage.

Continued: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a34906333/hyde-amendment-facts/

An Anti-Abortion Law Killed Rosie Jimenez 43 Years Ago. It’s Still In Effect

ZOE AVELLAN
OCTOBER 20, 2020

When I was younger, I always welcomed October — the change of seasons, the cooler weather, the whole autumn experience. Now, October reminds me of the struggles I overcame, and it makes me think about a young Tejana who faced similar struggles 43 years ago — with tragic consequences.

Rosie Jimenez was born and raised about an hour away from my hometown, in the region of southern Texas known as the Rio Grande Valley. She came from a family similar to mine, with Mexican roots and humble beginnings. But I only heard about her story a few years ago.

Continued: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/10/10069843/hyde-amendment-abortion-funding-cost-care

USA – It’s High Time We End Hyde If We Are Serious About Racial Justice

It's High Time We End Hyde If We Are Serious About Racial Justice [Op-Ed]
The Hyde Amendment blocks women from using federal funds such as Medicaid to end unwanted pregnancies. On this 43rd anniversary of a rule that places undue burden on women of color, we say enough is enough.

Jessica González-Rojas, Marcela Howell, Sung Yeon Choimorrow
Sep 30, 2019

Say her name: Rosie Jimenez. She was a 27-year-old Chicana, the daughter of migrant farm workers, living in McAllen, Texas, in 1977. She had a 5-year-old daughter she loved dearly. She was a student just six months shy of graduating and pursuing her dream of becoming a special education teacher. Yet, those dreams were never realized because Rosie died from an unsafe abortion she was forced to pursue because of the Hyde Amendment.

More than 40 years later, we still lack justice for Rosie’s untimely and unnecessary death. We must still contend with the stark injustice of the Hyde Amendment and similar restrictions, which deny coverage for safe abortion to people with Medicaid insurance, federal employees, military personnel, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives and federal prisoners. And political leaders still shy away from condemning the Hyde Amendment for what it is—a blatantly racist policy that essentially says women of color and women with low incomes are not worthy of making their own decisions over their bodies.

Continued: https://www.colorlines.com/articles/its-high-time-we-end-hyde-if-we-are-serious-about-racial-justice-op-ed

USA – Members of Congress Take Bold Step Towards Ending Discriminatory Bans on Abortion Coverage

Members of Congress Take Bold Step Towards Ending Discriminatory Bans on Abortion Coverage

By Georgeanne M. Usova, Legislative Counsel
March 12, 2019

Members of Congress on Tuesday took a bold step toward making the right to abortion a reality for everyone. The EACH Woman Act was reintroduced in the House — and introduced in the Senate for the first time ever.

This trailblazing legislation would end the Hyde Amendment and related bans on insurance coverage of abortion, which for over four decades have pushed abortion care out of reach for those enrolled in Medicaid and other government health insurance plans and programs.

Continued: https://www.aclu.org/blog/reproductive-freedom/abortion/members-congress-take-bold-step-towards-ending-discriminatory

12.03.2019

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News

abortion funding

abortion funding restrictions

USA – Yes, I do want your taxes to pay for abortion

Yes, I do want your taxes to pay for abortion
Ending the Hyde amendment, which bans federal funding of abortions, will give Americans their full rights – and dignity

Moira Donegan
Mon 3 Dec 2018

Abortion rights did not fare well in the midterm elections. Alabama voters approved a measure that will grant full legal personhood to fertilized eggs, a move that will massively restrict the rights of pregnant and fertile women and ban all abortions in the state after the fall of Roe v Wade. West Virginians removed state Medicaid funding for abortion procedures via a constitutional amendment.

Meanwhile, Republicans expanded their control of the Senate, allowing them to continue to stuff the federal courts with their rabidly anti-choice judicial nominees.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/03/yes-i-do-want-your-taxes-to-pay-for-abortion