NWHN Advocates for Abortion Legislation on Capitol Hill

On September 16 and 17, the National Women’s Health Network Policy & Advocacy team took to Capitol Hill for an event hosted by All* Above All, advocating for the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage and Health Insurance (EACH) Act and the Abortion Justice Act. The EACH Act is led by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), and the Abortion Justice Act is led by Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA).

The EACH Act seeks to broaden access to abortion care by removing barriers such as the Hyde Amendment – a federal policy that prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion services except in limited cases – ensuring that everyone, regardless of income or insurance coverage, can obtain services. Similarly, the Abortion Justice Act champions policies that make abortion both accessible and affordable for all, with a focus on marginalized communities, aiming to achieve reproductive equity and justice by dismantling systemic obstacles to abortion access.

Monday kicked off with a training session on the bills and how federal advocacy works. Nourbese Flint, President of All* Above All, gave an inspiring speech about the importance of abortion access. The Policy & Advocacy team met other advocates they would be going to meetings with, including members of the National Health Law Program, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Physicians for Reproductive Health, and Forward Together.

On Tuesday, before meetings with Congressional offices, we had a chance to hear from Representative Ayanna Pressley. Representative Pressley spoke about how the United States needs the protections of the EACH Act and Abortion Justice Act, especially in the context of Amber Thurman’s tragic death in Georgia because of an abortion ban. After Representative Pressley spoke, it was off to Capitol Hill! Half of the team met with the offices of Representatives Kweisi Mfume (D-MD7), Glenn Ivey (D-MD4), Steny Hoyer (D-MD05), and the other half of the team met with the offices of Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY20) and Pat Ryan (D-NY18).

The meetings with Congressional offices were highly productive, with meaningful discussions about the importance of expanding access to abortion care and reproductive justice. We are optimistic that through continued advocacy efforts, more of these representatives will sign on to the EACH Act and the Abortion Justice Act, helping to ensure that reproductive health care becomes more accessible for all, especially marginalized communities. The National Women’s Health Network is committed to working with our partners and lawmakers to dismantle the systemic barriers that hinder abortion access and reproductive equity in the United States.