Half a Century Later, Activists Push to Repeal the Hyde Amendment

The Congressional Reproductive Freedom Caucus, led by Reps. Diana DeGette and Ayanna Pressley, marked the anniversary by denouncing the long-standing budget rider as a classist and racist restriction. Since its 1976 inception, the amendment has prevented hundreds of thousands of people from accessing state-subsidized care, disproportionately affecting working-class families and people of color. Advocates are now pushing for the passage of the EACH Act, which has garnered support from over 200 House Democrats as a pathway to permanent repeal.

Beyond Medicaid, the amendment restricts access for Indigenous people, military personnel, federal employees, and those in federal prisons. Dr. Jamila Perritt, CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health, highlighted the human cost by citing the 1977 death of Rosie Jimenez, who died after being denied coverage for an abortion. While anti-abortion groups view the policy as a landmark legislative achievement, shifting political winds and growing congressional support for the EACH Act have created new uncertainty regarding its future. For providers, the focus remains on the financial burden placed on patients who are often forced to choose between basic survival needs and essential medical care.