Duckworth, Schakowsky reintroduce plan to expand abortion coverage

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., brought back a proposal last week to the Senate that aims to ensure those disproportionately affected by abortion bans have greater access to services.

The bill would help those relying on Medicaid and government funding for health coverage to obtain abortions. The bill aims to end the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal dollars from being spent on abortions unless the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest or poses a significant threat to the pregnant person’s life.

“Every woman in every state has a right to access the reproductive healthcare she needs — and government has no place getting in the way of that right,” Duckworth said in a statement.

Legislators have now proposed the bill in both chambers, with U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Evanston, reintroducing the bill to the House in January. Because women of color have higher Medicaid enrollment than the U.S. average as of 2020, Schakowsky expressed concerns about the Hyde Amendment.

“The Hyde Amendment is a racist, discriminatory policy designed to put reproductive and economic freedom out of reach for women of color and low-income women who need an abortion,” Schakowsky said in a statement.

– Elizabeth Casolo for Health News Illinois