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Abortion Laws : Ohio and Federal: Hyde Amendment

Hyde Amendment

On September 30, 1976, U.S. Representative Henry Hyde attached a rider onto an appropriations bill that kept Medicaid from covering abortion. Over time, Congress multiplied that single rider into restrictions that keep a slew of federal government programs and agencies, including Indian Health Services and the Veterans Health Administration, from providing coverage of abortion. These restrictions, while all distinct, are commonly referred to as the Hyde Amendment — named for the man who started it all. A long-standing budget rider, efforts to codify the Hyde Amendment have failed.

Book at the Law Library

Executive Order

US Code

Even though the Hyde Amendment as such has not been codified, the language still shows up in various parts of the US Code:

Original Hyde Amendment

US Supreme Court Case

Links