Democrats advance spending bill that would overturn the Hyde Amendment
Source: ABC News
House Democrats on Monday took steps to advance a new spending bill for the Department of Health and Human Services without the Hyde Amendment, a 40-year-old provision that has banned federal funding for most abortions.
In moving the spending bill to the full House Appropriations Committee for debate and a vote, Democrats followed through on President Joe Biden's proposed budget, which also did not include the amendment. House Democrats had indicated they would go this route and in doing so have effectively guaranteed that abortion access will be a central focus of government funding negotiations between Democrats and Republicans -- who have the votes to block the Democrats' measure from passing the Senate without changes.
The full House panel is expected to approve the bill and send the measure to the chamber for a vote. It's not yet clear if the measure can clear the narrowly divided chamber without the Hyde Amendment, given Democrats' slim majority.
As a senator, the devoutly Catholic Biden supported the Hyde Amendment over the years, but Biden reversed his stance in 2019 as he sought the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-advance-spending-bill-that-would-overturn-the-hyde-amendment/ar-AAM4ofV?li=BBnbfcQ
lookyhereyou
(140 posts)riversedge
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As a senator, the devoutly Catholic Biden supported the Hyde Amendment over the years, but Biden reversed his stance in 2019 as he sought the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
"If I believe heath care is a right, as I do, I can no longer support an amendment that makes that right dependent on someone's zip code," he said. "I can't justify leaving millions of women without access to the care they need and the ability to exercise their constitutionally protected right."
Democrats and reproductive rights groups that have called for the measure to be overturned said it disproportionately impacts women of color and low-income communities. Specifically, the amendment makes it extremely difficult for anyone who relies on government-issued health insurance such as Medicaid to access abortion care. Under the Affordable Care Act, an expanded group of low-income Americans now receive health insurance through the federal government but can still face these specific restrictions.
Opponents of the long-standing rule pointed out too that there are currently no restrictions on care for men who rely on government insurance. ...................................
Calista241
(5,586 posts)It'll either be in the Senate version, or it'll be put back in in Conference.