Senator Murray Statement on President Biden Removing the Hyde Amendment from the Proposed Budget

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS), released the following statement on the White House’s newly released budget proposal, which does not include the Hyde amendment—an unjust abortion coverage restriction for those who depend on Medicaid and other government-sponsored plans. The proposed budget also includes important investments in family planning programs, including $340 million for the Title X program, an increase of $54 million above FY21.

“Despite Roe v. Wade affirming the constitutional right to abortion, federal coverage restrictions like Hyde have made abortion accessible only to those with means—and its women of color, women with low-incomes, immigrants, and others who struggle the most to get care. But thanks to years of hard work and organizing from so many women across the country, we’re seeing real momentum towards repealing Hyde. A majority of Americans support lifting these restrictions and now, finally, the President’s budget proposal would end these harmful abortion coverage restrictions too. I’m working every single day to keep building support in the Senate and to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to abortion—no matter who they are, where they come from, or how they get their insurance.

“But our work can’t stop there—we’ve also got to stand up for reproductive health when it comes to family planning programs like Title X and so much more. I’m glad to see that the President’s budget proposal includes strong investments in these programs, ensuring everyone has the ability to get the reproductive health care they need. Especially with a conservative Supreme Court taking up a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, we’ve got to do everything we can to stand up for reproductive health care and that’s exactly what I’ll keep doing.”

Senator Murray is a leader in the fight to ensure access to reproductive health care, including abortion. She recently reintroduced the EACH Act, alongside Senators Duckworth, Senator Hirono and Congresswoman Lee, to end restrictions on abortion for patients with government sponsored health care plans and help ensure everyone can get the reproductive health care they need—no matter their income, race, zip-code, or how they get health care.

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