REPEAL THE HYDE AMENDMENT - PROVIDE FULL REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE IN HEALTH CARE REFORM

     Passed by Congress in 1976, the Hyde Amendment excludes
abortion from comprehensive health care services provides to low-
income people by the federal government through Medicaid. Each
year, Congress has renewed the ban on federal fuding through an
amendment to its annual appropriations bill. Currently federal
funding has been cut off for all abortions except those necessary
to save a woman's life or in cases of rape or incest. Most states
have followed the federal government's lead and severly limited
state funding for abortions.

     Through its ban, Congress has created a two-tiered system of
health care in this country. Poor women are unable to exercise
their constitutional right to safe and legal abortions.

     Congress is currently considering a number of health care
reform proposals. It is critically important that all reproductive
health services be included as part of the minimum benefit packgage
required under health care reform. Abortion services are necessary
health care. Abortion should not be singled for exclusion nor
should income level mandate the quality or accessibility of basic
reproductive health care. Furthermore, a national health care plan
that does not cover abortion will mean a loss of coverage for those
millions of women currently covered under private insurance. 

     Write or call your Members of Congress. Urge them to repeal
the Hyde Amendment and to act to ensure that all reproductive
health services, including abortion, are included as a part of
health care reform. 

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