March 12, 2019

Wyden Joins Colleagues to Introduce Legislation Ensuring Equal Access to Reproductive Health Care

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. today joined colleagues to introduce legislation protecting every woman’s constitutionally-guaranteed right to reproductive health care and helping ensure access to care for each woman, regardless of income, race or where in the country they may live.

The Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Woman Act would lift the federal prohibition in current law preventing women who receive their health coverage through government-sponsored plans such as Medicaid, Medicare and the Department of Defense from obtaining safe and legal abortion care.

“The constitutional right for women to make their own choices about their reproductive care has been affirmed time and time again. Yet, barriers still remain for many women,” said Wyden. “Every woman, no matter where they live or how much money they make, should have equal access to all reproductive care.”

Wyden joined U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., to introduce the EACH Woman Act in the Senate. The legislation was also introduced in the House by U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Diana DeGette, D-Colo., and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill.