Denver Congresswoman Diana DeGette joined pro-choice leaders yesterday in an “informational telephone town hall” about, among other things, a proposed federal law that would allow federal funds to pay for abortions.
The legislation, called the EACH Woman Act, “says, every woman in this country, rich or poor, should be able to get the full range of women’s health care services that she needs, including abortion,” said DeGette, who was one of the origianl sponsors of the bill.
Currently, there are 119 House co-sponsors, DeGette said.
The bill would repeal the Hyde amendment, which prohibits federal tax dollars from being spent on abortion, except for rape and incest victims.
DeGette described the Hyde amendment as “the most regressive assault on poor women’s rights to get a full range of reproductive services, including abortion.”
The bill, titled the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act, has little chance to pass the Republican-controlled House.
Oponents of the law say that it’s inappropriate for tax dollars to fund abortion, even for low-income women who might not otherwise be able to afford it.
On the phone call, DeGette also backed the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would prohibit states from imposing restrictions that would shut down clinics and reduce access to women’s health services.
“The Women’s Heatlh Protection Act would prevent the nightmare we experienced in Texas from being replicated across the country by blocking TRAP laws,” said Andrea Ferrigno is the Corporate Vice President for Whole Woman’s Health.
Cristina Aguilar, Executive Director for Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), also spoke on the telephone call.