NARAL hits Biden for support of controversial abortion rule

Abortion rights advocacy group NARAL Pro-Choice America decried former Vice President Joe Biden’s support for the Hyde Amendment, which prevents using federal funds to cover certain abortion services. 

“There’s NO political or ideological excuse for @JoeBiden’s support for the Hyde Amendment, which translates into discrimination against poor women and women of color plain and simple,” the group tweeted Wednesday. “His position further endangers people already facing enormous hurdles.”

There’s NO political or ideological excuse for @JoeBiden’s support for the Hyde Amendment, which translates into discrimination against poor women and women of color plain and simple. His position further endangers people already facing enormous hurdles. https://t.co/3jDleIq077

— NARAL (@NARAL) June 5, 2019

“At a time where the fundamental freedoms enshrined in Roe are under attack, the 2020 Democratic field has coalesced around the Party’s core values — support for abortion rights, and the basic truth that reproductive freedom is fundamental to the pursuit of equality and economic security in this country,” NARAL said in a statement.{mosads}

“Differentiating himself from the field this way will not earn Joe Biden any political points and will bring harm to women who are already most vulnerable,” the group added. 

Biden’s campaign aides on Wednesday told The Hill that the former vice president supports the controversial rule, which was first reported by NBC News. The campaign added that he would consider a repeal of the amendment if abortion access established under Roe v. Wade were threatened. 

Biden’s stance contrasts with other 2020 presidential hopefuls. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), as well as former Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) have expressed opposition to the Hyde Amendment and called to end it. 

Abortion issues have regained the spotlight as a series of Republican-controlled states have passed laws restricting access to abortion services, including banning abortion around six weeks into pregnancy.

Alabama’s governor last month signed a bill to outlaw nearly all abortions, in what is intended to set up a potential legal challenge to Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide.