Published by
Reuters
Reuters
By Andrea Shalal, Jarrett Renshaw and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House on Friday unveiled a $6 trillion budget proposal that would ramp up spending on infrastructure, education and combating climate change, arguing it makes good fiscal sense to invest now, when the cost of borrowing is cheap, and reduce deficits later. The first comprehensive budget offered by Democratic President Joe Biden faces strong opposition from Republican lawmakers, who want to tamp down U.S. government spending and reject his plans to hike taxes on the rich and big corporations. Biden’s plan for fiscal…
The following comment was received from the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW):
– NCJW CEO Sheila Katz issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s first budget, the first time in decades a president has submitted a budget without the discriminatory Hyde Amendment:
“National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) applauds President Biden for keeping his campaign promise and releasing a budget without the Hyde Amendment and related coverage bans, which for more than 40 years has prohibited Medicaid from funding abortion for people working to make ends meet. Restricting Medicaid coverage of abortion forces one in four low-income women seeking an abortion to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term.
“Ending the Hyde Amendment in his presidential budget fits squarely within President Biden’s racial equity and economic justice priorities — also key priorities for NCJW’s mission to improve the lives of women, children, and families. The ability to control family timing and size is essential to allow for economic success, educational achievement, and equality and can help families break cycles of poverty across generations. When a patient cannot afford an abortion, the consequences can be far-reaching: a person who is denied abortion care is more likely to fall into poverty than a person who can obtain the care they need. Lifting the Hyde Amendment and similar bans ensures that individuals can make their own decisions about their families, future, and health with dignity and respect.
“This historic step would not have been possible without the leadership of women of color, who have been organizing in their communities and educating elected leaders on the impact of this policy and why it is unjust.
“At NCJW, we know abortion is safe, essential health care, and accessing these services is a basic human right. While today we celebrate, tomorrow our 180,000 advocates across the country will continue to work with their lawmakers to keep abortion coverage bans, including the Hyde Amendment, out of federal legislation.”