Cortez Masto Cosponsors Legislation to Remove Financial Barriers to Reproductive Health Care

Press Release

U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today cosponsored legislation to ensure equal access to safe and legal abortions by eliminating bans on federal funding. The Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Woman Act protects every woman's constitutionally-guaranteed right to comprehensive reproductive health care and helps ensure access to care to each woman, regardless of income, race or where in the country they may live.

"Reproductive justice demands all women -- regardless of race, income or zip code -- have the freedom to make their own reproductive health decisions. Republicans have worked systematically to undermine reproductive rights by barring federal funding for reproductive health care -- funding that disproportionately hampers access to maternal care for low-income women. Access to health care, including safe abortions, is a fundamental right that has been consistently affirmed by the Supreme Court. I'll continue fighting until each and every woman in America has access to comprehensive, affordable health care."

The Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Woman Act was introduced by U.S. Senators 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.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). In addition to Senator Cortez Masto, the bill is also cosponsored by Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-Ore.).

Representatives Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Full text of the bill is available here.

BACKGROUND:

The Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Woman Act would statutorily prohibit the application of the Hyde Amendment, which bans federal funding for abortion. The bill would allow health plans funded by public programs, including Medicaid, the Federal Employee Health Benefits program and TRICARE, among others, to cover abortions. It would also make it so state and local governments may not prohibit, restrict or otherwise inhibit insurance coverage of abortion care by private health plans.