Joe Biden Signs Second Executive Order to Protect Abortion Access in Light of Supreme Court Ruling on Roe v. Wade
President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday to help ensure access to abortion across the country. This was the president's second order since the Supreme Court decided to end the constitutional right to abortion.
NBC News reported that the order aimed to help women across state borders to obtain abortions. The second executive order directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to "consider" allowing Medicaid funds to be used to assist people traveling across states to get abortions.
It also orders HHS to ensure the health care providers follow federal anti-discrimination laws so women could receive "medically necessary care without delay."
Joe Biden spoke virtually and warned that the Republicans want to ban the procedure nationwide. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that it would be up to HHS to ensure that the executive order's implementation does not violate the Hyde Amendment.
Hyde Amendment bans using federal funds for abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the woman's life.
Joe Biden's Executive Order on Abortion Access
A senior administration official told The Guardian that the HHS will soon be provided with more details on provisions to help women served by Medicaid health coverage cover certain costs of traveling for abortion access.
People in states where abortions are restricted or lack clinical facilities to do the medical procedure have been pushed to cross state lines to get the treatment.
However, several women cannot afford to travel across state lines to get the medical procedure. Some are turning to non-profit abortion funds to help cover the costs.
Joe Biden signed an executive order in July for abortion access, ordering HHS to act on protecting access to medication for abortion and update guidance to ensure that emergency care is not affected by the bans and restrictions on abortion.
The previous executive order also directed the attorney general and White House counsel to encourage "robust legal representation" for seeking or offering the reproductive healthcare service.
Roe v. Wade Repealed
Various groups approving the revocation of Roe v. Wade proposed new approaches to defend abortion bans nationwide.
According to ABC News, an anti-abortion group has proposed model legislation that would ban all abortions except to prevent the death of a pregnant woman.
Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University Law School, said the post-Roe world will be different for Republicans, noting that they have been on the offense for years on dismantling the landmark ruling.
Turley noted that they will now be playing "defense in all 50 states" to keep the ban. The Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade noted that abortion is not a right under the U.S. Constitution, which paves the way for some states to get more restrictions.
Meanwhile, more than 60 percent of Americans believe in the legal right to abortion in all or most cases.
READ MORE: Pres. Joe Biden Labels Supreme Court Leaked Opinion on Abortion Case as "Radical Decision"
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Written by: Mary Webber
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