Building Support for Abortion Coverage through Municipal Resolutions

Policy Win
Issues:
Expanding Abortion Access

“People in 34 states and the District of Columbia are cut off from safe, affordable abortion services due to the Hyde Amendment.” 

– Guttmacher Institute

For more than 45 years, the Hyde Amendment and related restrictions have banned federal insurance from covering abortion–including for anyone enrolled in Medicaid. The harms of this policy fall hardest on people who are Black, Indigenous, low-income, and all those who rely on government-funded insurance care. NIRH and our partner All* Above All (All*) work with cities, states, and advocates at all levels to take actions that support funding for abortion, oppose the discriminatory Hyde Amendment, and work towards passage of the federal Equal Access to Abortion Coverage (EACH) Act. This includes passing municipal resolutions that call for an end to the Hyde Amendment to build broad public support for abortion funding.

Municipalities that have passed resolutions include:

2019

St. Louis, MO

In 2019, NIRH and All* worked with Pro-Choice Missouri and the St. Louis Board of Aldermen to pass a resolution calling for the end of insurance bans on abortion coverage. The resolution, passed by a vote of 20-1, called upon state elected officials to provide abortion care coverage in public and private insurance programs in Missouri, and for the federal government to repeal the Hyde Amendment and similar bans. 

2018

Durham, NC

NIRH and All* Above All partnered with Pro-Choice North Carolina (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina) and a broad coalition of local organizations, including Carolina Abortion Fund, SisterSong, ACLU of North Carolina, Action NC, American Association of University Women NC, Equality NC, Jewish Voice for Peace, National Association of SW NC Chapter, NC Justice Center, North Carolina NOW, Planned Parenthood of the South Atlantic, and Southerners on New Ground (SONG) to advocate for passage of a resolution calling for the federal government to repeal the Hyde Amendment and called on President Trump and Governor Cooper to actively support measures to ensure and protect the rights of women, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individuals everywhere to have unhindered access to safe and comprehensive health care. Given North Carolina’s practice of controlling its cities’ freedom to determine their own policies about coverage, this resolution is an important step in standing up for local policy that works for the people who live in Durham County.

2017

Multnomah County, OR

NIRH and All* partnered with the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), the Momentum Alliance, the Western States Center, and the We are BRAVE Coalition to introduce and win passage of a Multnomah County Board of Commissioners reproductive health care proclamation. The proclamation specifically affirmed policies that support insurance coverage and funding for all reproductive healthcare services for people who can become pregnant, including abortion. 

Pittsburgh, PA

On November 20, 2017, the Pittsburgh City Council voted to pass a Will of Council calling for the passage of the EACH Act, and for the repeal of Pennsylvania’s ban on abortion coverage in private insurance plans sold through the state’s Health Insurance Exchange. This effort was led by New Voices for Reproductive Justice, a human rights organization dedicated to the health and well-being of Black women and women of color in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and supported by NIRH and All*. 

Seattle, WA

Surge Reproductive Justice and Legal Voice successfully advocated for the Seattle City Council and Mayor to pass a proclamation in support of policies that support insurance coverage of abortion and funding for other reproductive health services for all immigrants. This proclamation built on a 2014 resolution which called for federal lawmakers to repeal all bans on public insurance coverage of abortion. 

  • The 2017 proclamation affirmed the importance of healthcare for all people, regardless of immigration status.
  • The 2014 resolution laid important groundwork for continued reproductive healthcare advocacy.  

2016

Boston, MA

NIRH and All* partnered with a coalition of organizations in Boston, including Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, the ACLU of Massachusetts, Pro-Choice Massachusetts, and the Eastern Massachusetts Abortion (EMA) Fund to advocate for the Boston City Council to pass a resolution honoring the United for Abortion Coverage Week of Action. In September 2016, the City Council, led by then-Councilmember Ayanna Pressly, unanimously passed the resolution declaring its support for Medicaid abortion coverage. 

Ithaca, NY

NIRH and All* worked closely with Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes to support Alderperson Cynthia Brock of the Ithaca Common Council as she led a resolution condemning the Hyde Amendment.  The resolution called on the US Congress and President Obama to support and reinstate insurance coverage for abortion services. The resolution passed and Mayor Svante Merrick released his own Mayoral Proclamation calling for the passage of the EACH Act, which would reverse the Hyde Amendment and related restrictions.  

Los Angeles, CA

6 is missing from “2016.” NIRH’s involvement is unclear, so edited for clarity below.

The Los Angeles Coalition for Reproductive Justice successfully worked with Councilwoman Nury Martinez to pass a unanimous resolution through the Los Angeles City Council calling for the passage of the EACH Act and a repeal on bans on insurance coverage of abortion. 

Philadelphia, PA

On September 29, 2016, the Philadelphia City Council, led by Councilwoman Cindy Bass and Councilwoman Helen Gym, unanimously passed a resolution calling for passage of the EACH Act and for an end to state and federal bans on insurance coverage of abortion. In taking this action, the City Council joined its Board of Health, who passed a similar resolution in February 2013. 

2015

Cook County, IL

NIRH and All* worked in close collaboration with the Roger Baldwin Foundation of the ACLU of Illinois and the Chicago Abortion Fund (CAF) to build support for public coverage of and funding for abortion in Chicago and the state of Illinois, ultimately resulting in the passage of HB40 in 2019 that required Illinois to provide Medicaid coverage of abortion. In 2015, the successful passage of a resolution by the Cook County Board of Commissioners condemning state and federal bans on abortion helped move the advocacy that ultimately led to HB40 forward. 

Madison, WI

NIRH worked closely with Alderman Lisa Subeck as she sponsored a resolution calling for increased funding for abortion care. The resolution passed unanimously in March 2015. Testimony from members of the Women’s Medical Fund, a local abortion fund, emphasized that repealing the bans on insurance coverage of abortion is part of the larger struggle against inequity that marginalized communities face.

Testimony in favor of the resolution:

2014

Seattle, WA

NIRH and All* partnered with Legal Voice to advocate for the Seattle City Council to pass a resolution calling on federal lawmakers to repeal all bans on public insurance coverage of abortion. The passage of this resolution affirmed Seattle as the first jurisdiction in the Northwest to declare its opposition to the Hyde Amendment, which restricts federal funds from covering abortion. 

2013

Cambridge, MA

NIRH and All* partnered with two local Cambridge activists from the Eastern Massachusetts Abortion (EMA) Fund to pass a resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and calling for the reinstatement of public abortion coverage. The Cambridge City Council passed the resolution passed in April 2013. 

Cambridge City Council hearing testimony:

New York City

NIRH Action Fund worked hand-in-hand with the New York City Council to pass a resolution on January 23, 2013, commemorating the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and calling on the U.S. Congress to restore federal funding for abortion. Several other reproductive rights and justice advocates testified in support of the resolution, which passed unanimously.

Testimony from the New York City Council Committee on Women’s Issues hearing on Resolution No. 1635-A:

Philadelphia, PA

NIRH and All* partnered with the Abortion Liberation Fund of Pennsylvania (formerly Women’s Medical Fund), a local abortion fund, to advocacte for the Philadelphia Board of Health to pass a resolution supporting comprehensive reproductive health care coverage. The resolution passed unanimously in February 2013 and called on state lawmakers to vote against a state-level ban on abortion coverage, in addition to reinstating abortion coverage for anyone, regardless of insurance status. 

Travis County, TX

NIRH and All* collaborated with Avow and Lilith Fund to support a Commissioners Court resolution affirming the fundamental right to access safe and comprehensive health care and restore family planning funding. The resolution unanimously passed on the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. 

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