50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment

Epiphany · Oct 2, 2026 · 13m

Column: At 50, the Hyde Amendment’s lifesaving legacy needs defending

First passed on Sept. 30, 1976, the Hyde Amendment largely prevents federal taxpayer dollars from funding elective abortions through Medicaid. The Hyde Amendment remains an important victory for the pro-life movement for three reasons.

1) Hyde was an important political victory. The original Hyde Amendment received support from both Democrats and Republicans. This showed the nascent pro-life movement had the ability to pass legislation.

2) Hyde was an important legal victory. In Harris v. McRae in 1980, the U.S. Supreme…