@011me at the tantra ?tates Washington, $6 20515 December 19, 2016 The Honorable Donald Trump President-elect of the United States Presidential Transition Headquarters 1800 Street, NW, 01 17 Washington, DC 20270-0117 Dear Mr. President-elect: As Members of Congress committed to advancing reproductive health, rights, and justice, and related social justice causes, we believe that each of us should be able to make decisions about pregnancy and parenting that are best for our families without political interference. However, since the passage of the Hyde Amendment in 1976, anti-choice policy makers have continually enacted bans on health coverage and funding for abortion that push this decision out of reach for many, particularly those struggling to make ends meet. We ask that you demonstrate your commitment to being a President for all people in the United States by eliminating the Hyde Amendment, as well as related abortion coverage and care restrictions, from your Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Budget request. The current federal restrictions on abortion coverage and care have a far-reaching impact on women enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare; federal employees and their dependents; Peace Corps Volunteers; Native American women; women in federal prisons and immigration detention centers; and residents of the District of Columbia. Together, these bans restrict the health coverage of millions of women of reproductive age across the country.1 In addition to producing a clean budget, we ask that you veto any bill that makes permanent the coverage restrictions impacting these populations or similarly denies abortion coverage or care to new populations. For too long, low-income women and women of color have shouldered the burden of our country?s restrictive reproductive health laws. Together, we ask that you send a strong signal that this will no longer be the legacy of the United States. For many, coverage for abortion care means the difference between getting the health care they need and being denied that care. Approximately one in four Medicaid-eligible women who would have had an abortion if funds were available must carry the pregnancy to term.2 The impact of such a denial can have long-term, devastating effects on a woman and her family?s economic future. A recent study found that a woman who seeks but is denied abortion care is more likely to fall into poverty than a Williamson, and Birchler, S. hifographic: Pass the EACH Women Act. Center for American Progress. October 8, 2015. Available at: 1 Henshaw, S.K., Joyce T., Dennis. A., Finer, L.B., and Blanchard, K. ?Restrictions on Medicaid Funding for Abortions: A Literature Review.? Guttmacher Institute. Jul 2009. Available at Uf?r? PRINTED ON RECYCLED woman who is able to get the care she needs.3 Every person should be treated with dignity, compassion and respect?and that includes upholding a woman?s right to make her own decisions about whether to end a pregnancy. We urge you to begin your presidency with a clear and bold statement that abortion coverage bans have no place in our public policy by eliminating all such restrictions from your FY2018 Budget request. This will send a strong message to Congress and the country that everyone should be able to decide when and how to start a family?no matter their income, the type of insurance they have, or where they live. Sincerely, BARBARA LEE SCHAKOWSKY Member of Congress ember of Congress Member of Congress - GWEN MOORE DEBBIE WASSERMAN ROSA DELAURO Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress - 7 GREGMMEEKS KEITH ELLISON Member of Congress Member of Congress gm Mn ?w TIM RYMN EL ANOR HOLMES NORTON STEVE COHEN Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress 3 Foster DG. Dobkin LM, Upadhyay UD. Denial of abortion care due to gestational age limits Contraception. 2013;81'0) 3 S. humfghiyy?cmng? ng IUDY CHU DONALD S. BEYER Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress IJAI-I CUMMINGS DAVID E. PRICE ED ember of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress I ?1 JULIA KEA IN Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress MARK TAKANO OE REN AMI BERA Member of Congress ember Congress Member of Congress OTIS MCNERNEY DORIS MATSUI DEBBIE GEL er of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress - 0M . LINDA T. SMHEZ ELIOT ENGEL BRENDA L. LAWRENCE Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress or? ?rm? 4mm, COLLIEIEN HANABUSA SUZIW DELBENE THLEEN M. RICE Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress DEGETTE . IBCOLLUM Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress HAKEE FFRIES RACE F. NAPOLITANO Mem of Congress Member ongress Member of Congress BILL POSTER OSE P. 111 Member of Congress Member of Congress mber of Congress DONALD M. MNE, JR. Member of Congress #?drb KATHY CASTOR ess Member of Congress DINA TITUS MIKE THOMPSEN CHELLIE PINGREE Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress ADAM B. SCI-IIFF ETTE CLARKE TED Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress Z/?w LUIS V. TIERRE 03mm EARL BLUMENAUER Mem of Congress Member of Congre Member of Congress ERROLD NADLER TED DEUTCH Member of Congress Member of Congress ELMA S. ADAMS SQZANNE BONAMICI RUBEN GALLEGO Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress SANDE . VIN JOHN YARMUTH ADAM SMITH Member 0 Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress T0 CARDBNAS 0 LOIS FMNKEL FREDERICA WILSON mber of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress JOHN LEWIS GRISHAM KILME Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress I Hgi?M?, alt/4'0 O?Qowlou. ALCEE HASTINGS IZABETH ESTY BETO Member of Congress ember of Congress Member of Congress EDDIE BERNICE JOHSON RICK LARSEN DAN KILDEE Member of Congress Member of Congress . Member of Congress ES P. Member of Congre ember of Congress We? 03:ka 352% ALAN LOWENTHAL DONALD NORCROSS DAVID SCOTT Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress 7219 CEDRIC RICHMOND PETE AGUIL Me ber of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress CAROL . MALONE MICHAEL M. HONDA Member of Congress Member of Congress 399m}. {Events ANN MCLANE SHEILA JACKS LEE DONNA F. EDWARDS Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress CHRIS VAN HOLL ROBERT . SCOTT PAUL TONKO Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress A MARC VEASEY SETH MOULTON MICHAEL M. CAPU Member of Con Member of Congress Member of Congress STEVE ISRAEL ETER WELCH Member of Congress Member of Congress 433??! I f" MARK Pot-m? ERIC SWALWELL . Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress HENR JOHNSON, JR. E. BASS Member of Congress ember of Congress Member of Congress