(Washington, D.C.) The National Women’s Health Network (“the Network”) boldly stands with All* Above All and our pro-choice Congressional champions to restore and sustain abortion coverage for low-income women. We celebrate the introduction of the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Woman Act as a major step toward achieving that goal.

The Network applauds lead sponsors Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO), and 70 Members of Congress, for their relentless commitment to ensuring every woman has access to the reproductive health care she needs, regardless of her income, her residence, or her type of health insurance. This progressive and visionary legislation prohibits politicians from interfering in the health care decisions that should be left to a woman, her family, and her doctor.

“For 39 years, the Hyde Amendment has prohibited women from accessing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care. This amendment has disproportionately affected low-income women, women of color, immigrant women, and young women. The EACH Woman Act puts an end to this unfair and harmful discrimination,” says Cindy Pearson, Executive Director of the National Women’s Health Network.

Since its inception, the National Women’s Health Network has advocated for the removal of the Hyde Amendment. The Network’s very first call to action asked its members to speak out against the harmful effects of Hyde. Since our founding, we have fought to protect the right of every woman to have access to safe, affordable abortion care.

Pearson continues by saying, “It’s long past time to take a stand against this injustice to women and their families. Politicians should not be allowed to deny a woman coverage for abortion just because she is poor. Today we stand up and say enough is enough.”

The National Women’s Health Network is proud to be a part of this monumental day for women’s health and reproductive justice. We will continue working with our All* Above All and Congressional allies to ensure the EACH Woman Act becomes a reality for all women in this country.

The National Women’s Health Network is supported by our members and by choice, we do not accept financial support from drug companies or medical device manufacturers. We bring the voices, concerns and needs of women consumers to policy and regulatory tables. We are a proud partner of the All* Above All campaign building support for lifting bans that deny abortion coverage.

Cindy Pearson was the NWHN’s Executive Director from 1996 to 2021. One of the nation's leading advocates for women's health, Cindy often testified before Congress,  NIH and the FDA and was frequently featured in the news as a consumer expert on women’s health issues. When she retired, Cindy received a Congressional Resolution in honor of her outstanding contributions to the health of women and girls.

Read more from Cindy Pearson.