All* Above All Action Fund Applauds Historic Democratic Platform Proposal Calling to Tend Abortion Coverage Bans

For immediate release

Washington DC—All* Above All Action Fund, a national effort to lift the bans that deny abortion coverage, applauds the Democratic National Committee’s historic platform proposal supporting the repeal of the Hyde Amendment which prohibits Medicaid insurance from covering abortion care.

The Hyde Amendment forces 1 in 4 poor women seeking abortion to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term. Politicians shouldn’t deny abortion coverage to poor women.

“No one should be prohibited from making a personal decision about pregnancy just because of her insurance coverage, where she lives, her immigration status, or her ability to pay,” said Destiny Lopez, co-director, All* Above All Action Fund.

All* Above All and 61 of its partner organizations, leading organizations in reproductive rights and justice, urged both the Democratic and Republican platforms to “oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine abortion access, and support overturning policies that presently interfere with a woman’s ability to end her pregnancy.  It is better that each woman makes that decision with her family and her faith – without the interference of politicians.” The letter went on further to say, “That’s why we must support two bills critical to ensuring abortion access for all women in the United States. The Women’s Health Protection Act helps keep services available, while the EACH Woman Act lifts the bans that deny abortion coverage.”

In addition to the sign-on letter, Destiny Lopez, co-director, All* Above All Action Fund testified before the Democratic National Convention Party Platform Committee in Phoenix, AZ last month, urging them to take a strong stand against abortion coverage bans and related abortion restrictions that interfere with a woman’s ability to make a personal decision about her pregnancy.

Candidates along the campaign trail have been taking strong stands against abortion coverage bans, including Democratic Nominee Hilary Clinton. She expressed her support for eliminating the Hyde amendment, calling it a law that makes it “harder for low-income women to exercise their full rights. “ She went on to say, “Any right that requires you to take extraordinary measures to access is not right at all.”

”We look forward to the full adoption of the platform at the Democratic National Convention later this month and we will continue to engage the candidates about the impact of abortion coverage bans and the opportunity to pass the EACH Woman Act, a bill to lift the bans that deny abortion coverage,” commented Lopez.

###