A New Anti-Abortion Bill Will Have Serious Consequences for Low-Income Women
Things are certainly changing quickly under President Trump’s administration. First, we were monitoring the sitch as a national bill was introduced that would make abortion illegal at six weeks. And, as expected (and feared), one of Trump’s first executive orders was to reinstate the “Mexico City Policy” or the “Global Gag Rule” that prohibits the US from giving funds to orgs that provide abortions (or even suggests them as a viable healthcare option). Now, the House of Representatives has passed an anti-abortion bill that will have serious consequences for low-income women.
Yesterday afternoon, the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 7, which is an anti-abortion bill making the Hyde Amendment (which blocks federal Medicaid coverage of all abortions, with select exceptions for victims of rape or incest or those with life-threatening complications) permanent, and which, according to Marie Claire, “further restricts abortion access for low-income women, federal government employees, military women stationed overseas, and women in the Peace Corps.”
BREAKING: US House just passed HR7, which would prevent millions of women from using their health insurance to pay for #abortion care.
— Guttmacher Institute (@Guttmacher) January 24, 2017
H.R. 7 now also prohibits government money from going to multi-state health insurance plans that were created under the Affordable Care Act, which means millions of women across the country will lose access to insurance coverage for abortions, even if their care if self-funded.
The reaction? Well…
Another day, another effort to endanger women by denying them access to health care. See @PPFA statement on #HR7: https://t.co/IwKT3TESRS
— Planned Parenthood (@PPofMI) January 25, 2017
Welcome to 2017, where #HR7 is a thing and apparently we still have old dudes telling women what to do with their bodies. Just vote no, bro.
— Chaz Kellogg (@ChazNKellogg) January 25, 2017
excited for the legislation that will expand protection and benefits for the mothers and children who will suffer bc of #HR7!
… oh wait…— Kelli Hitchman (@KelliHitchman) January 25, 2017
I started writing a script for #HR7 to read to my senators but now it's a full blown dissent.
— Justine_who (@WhatJustineSays) January 25, 2017
Called rep @RepEdRoyce at 714-255-0101 to tell him I disapprove of his vote on #HR7. We shouldnt force girls to carry unwanted pregnancies.
— Jaki (@jakiiiw) January 25, 2017
If you marched in the #WomensMarch, you'd better be calling your senators about #HR7: https://t.co/mnIe94eWCs
— Lara Elena Donnelly (@larazontally) January 25, 2017
I respect the personal decisions of women and families–that’s why I’m working to #BeBoldEndHyde & oppose #HR7. https://t.co/tvG4OtEPgx
— Avantika Krishna (@avakrish) January 25, 2017
What do you think about this anti-abortion action? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(h/t Marie Claire, photo via Pool/Getty)
