by The Editors
Today, House Republicans pulled a frightening revision from HR3, or “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” that would have redefined rape and make pregnant rape survivors prove their sexual assault was “forcible,” leaving many survivors by the wayside. But removing this language should not be considered a major victory, as this entire bill is an act of violence against women. After all, the legislators that created this bill still have what they really want, which is a legislation that would codify the Hyde Amendment into law.
In fact, this revision may have simply been a ploy to deter us from their real motive: to permanently restrict thousands of women from receiving affordable abortion care.
For nearly 35 years, the Hyde Amendment has restricted women from receiving federal assistance to have abortions. On top of codifying Hyde into permanent law, HR3 leaves thousands of women, particularly low-income women of color, out in the cold, forcing them to pay out-of-pocket for abortion care that they simply can’t afford. This new bill is a wake-up call that the Hyde Amendment must be repealed, once and for all.
And this latest tactic just reveals anti-choicers’ true anti-woman agenda, and the lengths to which they will go to try to further control our bodies and lives. Editor-in-Chief Merle Hoffman said in this Winter’s issue:
“The fundamental right to reproductive freedom and justice stems from…the recognition of the fundamental humanity of women in any society, exercised in their ability to reason and choose. The ultimate choice, of course, involves bodily integrity. By ceding this power to the state or church women lose their humanity to the hypothetical humanity of either the fetus or to the ‘collective good’ as those in power define it.”
This fight is far from over. You can protest this monstrous bill in various ways, whether it be writing a letter to the editor, calling in to talk shows, joining others in protest, calling your legislators, sending an email or joining the online Twitter campaign #DearJohn that has been dominating the Twittersphere by targeting John Boehner and Rep. Chris Smith. Also follow our Twitter account @ontheissues for updates.
But don’t wait to take action — our autonomy depends on it.