Black women condemn FY22 federal spending bill, demand funding for abortion

WASHINGTON — Congress finally passed the Fiscal Year 2022 spending bill that includes the Hyde Amendment, preventing federal funding of abortion. In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda President and CEO Marcela Howell issued the following statement in response:

“Once again, Congress is willing to sacrifice the reproductive health and rights of Black women by continuing the ban on federal funding of abortion services. The same Congress that failed to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act never fails to restrict access to abortion.

“At a time when reproductive health is under siege in more than 26 states and the Supreme Court is debating an end to Roe, members of Congress should be tearing down barriers to accessing abortion — instead of building them up. Black women expect that the politicians we voted for will represent our interests and our rights.

“We must hold our elected leaders accountable and demand that our rights are respected and our lives prioritized. We must redouble our efforts to engage voters and elect leaders who reflect our values and our needs.

“Our message to members of Congress: Defend Black women’s rights or don’t count on our votes.”

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In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national Reproductive Justice organization focused on lifting up the voices of Black women leaders at the national, regional, and state levels in our ongoing fight to secure Reproductive Justice for Black women, femmes, queer, trans and gender non-conforming people and youth. Our strategic partners include Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc., SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.