Planned Parenthood’s lobbying arm slammed former Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday for his support of the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal money from being used to cover some abortion costs.
The Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF), the reproductive health organization’s advocacy group, called the policy “discriminatory” and “strongly encouraged” Biden to rethink his position.
“To support the Hyde Amendment is to block people — particularly women of color and women with low incomes — from accessing safe, legal abortion,” PPAF executive director Kelley Robinson said in a statement.{mosads}
“As abortion access is being restricted and pushed out of reach in states around the country, it is unacceptable for a candidate to support policies that further restrict abortion,” the statement continued.
“We strongly encourage Joe Biden to speak to the people whose lives are impacted by this discriminatory policy and reevaluate his position,” Robinson added.
Campaign aides to Biden confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday that he supports the controversial rule but also said he would consider repealing it if abortion access that was established under Roe v. Wade was threatened.
His position was first reported by NBC News.
Biden differs on the issue from several 2020 presidential candidates, many of whom expressed their opposition to the Hyde Amendment on Wednesday.
His position was also condemned by abortion rights advocacy organization NARAL Pro-Choice America.
In recent polls, Biden has consistently been the front-runner of two dozen people vying for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
Updated: 4:47 p.m.