Today we remember Rosie Jimenez. A 27-year-old mother from Texas who should never have lost her life. Rosie died because she could not afford safe abortion care. A college student planning to become a special education teacher, she left behind a 4-year old daughter.

In 1977, when the Hyde Amendment took effect and Medicaid stopped covering abortion, Rosie sought an illegal abortion instead and died of a resulting infection on October 3, 1977. Rosie was not a statistic. She was a daughter, a mother, a student, and a woman with a future she was working hard to build. Her story shows what happens when a legal right depends on a person's income.

For 50 years, a single budget rule has decided who gets to make a personal medical decision and who doesn't. It has nothing to do with medicine, and it doesn't reflect what most people believe about privacy, family, or fairness.

That rule is the Hyde Amendment. Now we have a chance to end it.

What the Hyde Amendment Actually Does

The Hyde Amendment restricts government funds from being used to cover abortion, except in extremely limited circumstances. In practice, it blocks federal health insurance programs, like Medicaid, from paying for abortion care. The people affected include: Low-income families who rely on Medicaid Military members and their families Native Americans and Indigenous people who receive care through the Indian Health Service Federal and government employees Peace Corps volunteers Everyone has the same legal right to abortion, regardless of their circumstances. But a legal right that you can't afford to use is a right in name only. Denying access to abortion solely because of someone's socioeconomic status is unacceptable.

A Political Decision, Not a Medical One

Pregnancy does not follow a single path. It can end in childbirth, miscarriage, or abortion, and people deserve care through every outcome. Yet for decades, the Hyde Amendment has carved abortion out of Medicaid coverage for no medical reason, only a political one. Think about what that means for a family living on a tight budget. Two people can have the same pregnancy-related needs, the same doctor, and the same values. But if one has private insurance and the other has Medicaid, only one of them has coverage for the full range of care. The other is left to cover the cost alone, at one of the most important and vulnerable moments of her life. For a working family, an unexpected medical expense can mean choosing between rent, groceries, and health care.

Abortion Is Health Care, and Most People Who Have One Are Already Parents

One of the most persistent myths about abortion is that it's a decision made by people who don't want to be parents. The reality is different. Abortion is healthcare, and most people who have one are already parents. These are mothers who know exactly what raising a child requires: the time, the money, the energy, and the stability. They are making very personal decisions about their families and their futures. Most of us understand that these are private decisions best made by a person with her family and her healthcare provider. Many people believe politicians shouldn't make private medical decisions for us, and that belief runs across party lines, communities, and generations.

What a Real Pro-Family Agenda Looks Like

We often hear the phrase "pro-family" used to justify policies that restrict choices. But a real pro-family agenda means giving people the freedom and support to make their own decisions about pregnancy and parenthood. That means ensuring that families have access to: A full range of healthcare Paid family and medical leave Childcare Housing Economic security Families are strongest when they have the resources to thrive and the freedom to decide what is right for them. Forcing someone to carry a pregnancy because she can't afford her care doesn't support families. It pushes them deeper into financial strain and takes away their ability to plan their own lives.

The EACH Act: A Path Forward

The solution is the EACH Act. It would end the Hyde Amendment. The EACH Act would make sure that: Abortion is covered like other pregnancy-related care, rather than singled out for exclusion People enrolled in Medicaid and other federal health programs can use the coverage they have It would replace a 50-year-old political carve-out with a simple principle: your access to health care should not depend on your income.

The Momentum Is Real Many lawmakers from both parties support this bill. As of today, Oct 3, 2026, there are 202 supporters in the House and 34 in the Senate. But we're not there yet, and we need your help to get it across the finish line. An outpouring of support from voters like you is more important than ever.

What You Can Do

Here are ways to help move the EACH Act forward:

• Click here to send a letter to your Congressional representative urging them to support the EACH Act. If they're already cosponsors, thank them and ask them to keep pushing for a vote.
• Share your story. If you or someone you love has been affected by the cost of abortion care, your story can help people understand what's at stake.
• Talk about it. Bring up the Hyde Amendment with friends, family, and colleagues. Explain that abortion is health care and that cost shouldn't decide who can get it.
• Amplify the message online. Share this post, tag your lawmakers, and use your platform to explain why ending the Hyde Amendment matters.

The time is now to overturn a ban that has only harmed people. Urge your lawmakers to enact policies that protect and ensure abortion care, starting with the EACH Act, so that everyone can access this healthcare service.

Together, we can end the Hyde Amendment and protect access to reproductive health for everyone.