As President Joe Biden begins enacting his policy goals, abortion rights advocates will watch and see whether he makes good on his promise to repeal the Hyde Amendment after years of supporting it. The amendment implemented in 1977 bars federal funding from paying for abortions except in the case of rape, incest, or if the pregnant person’s life is in danger. Meaning, those seeking an abortion have to find hundreds of dollars on a tight schedule to pay for a legal, safe healthcare procedure.
Despite their hopes for legislative changes under Biden, Southern activists working in some of the nation’s most restrictive states for abortion say repealing Hyde won’t be the panacea some hope. While it would be a step in the right direction, state-level restrictions make abortion hard to access in some places, an issue only compounded by cost.