Dear John,

For the first time in decades, a president submitted a budget to Congress that eliminated the harmful abortion restriction known as the Hyde Amendment. This move was an important step in the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to creating a more equitable health care system.

After a president submits their budget priorities, Congress—with input from the public—then writes the legislation that becomes the annual funding bill. For decades, federal funding bills have included abortion restrictions that have made it impossible for many people to access the abortion care they need.

These budget-related abortion restrictions include the Hyde Amendment, which bans abortion coverage for people who get their health insurance or health care through the federal government and has been a barrier to abortion care for decades, and the Weldon amendment, which also denies abortion care and coverage to many who need it and punishes states that try to protect abortion access.

We know the ability to access abortion allows people to make the best decisions for their health, lives, and futures. But for decades, Hyde, Weldon, and other budgetary abortion restrictions have made it more difficult for low-income people, people of color, young people, immigrants, and those who live in rural areas to access the abortion care they need. Removing Hyde, Weldon, and other abortion restrictions from the federal funding bill is just one of the many ways Congress can advance economic, racial, and gender equity in this country.

Soon, Congress will be unveiling its own budget proposal, and we must make sure they follow through and do their part to represent our values by committing to a clean budget without the Hyde and Weldon amendments, or any other restriction that can be used to take abortion care away from people.Please take a moment to email your representative in Congress today.

Sincerely,

Rachel Easter
she/her
Director, Federal Abortion Policy Initiatives
National Women's Law Center