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Gillibrand: 'I Will Work to Overturn the Hyde Amendment'

May 21, 2019

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D., NY) said she will work to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or when the mother's life is endangered, during an appearance on CNN Right Now on Tuesday.

Gillibrand outlined several policies to protect abortion access she would work towards enacting.

"So on this issue, I'm fighting for four things. I will not appoint a justice or a judge who doesn't believe that Roe v. Wade is settled precedent," Gillibrand said. "I will work to overturn the Hyde Amendment, which makes it impossible for low-income women to get access to reproductive care, including abortion services. I will also work hard to codify Roe v. Wade so it's the law of the land, and I will make sure no matter what state you live in that you have an opportunity to get full reproductive care."

Gillibrand's remarks come after former vice president Joe Biden flipped his position and announced earlier this month that he now supports repealing the Hyde Amendment.

Last week, Gillibrand said she would ensure states could not pass anti-abortion laws and labeled President Donald Trump's Supreme Court justice appointments "anti-choice extremists."

Gillibrand's presidential campaign has struggled to gain traction, with most national and early-state polls showing her at 1 percent or less. She has blamed "gender bias" and the fact people are "generally biased against women" for her bad showing in primary surveys.

Democrats have hardened their stance on abortion over the past year. In January, Democrats in the Virginia state legislature proposed expanding abortion access up to the moment right before birth. One month later, Senate Democrats blocked the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which would have required doctors to provide medical care to babies who survive abortion. Gillibrand was among the Democrats who voted to deny care to newborns who survive abortion.