FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2021
Contact: media@napawf.org
WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, the leading organization advocating for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and girls, celebrated the reproductive health provisions in the Biden administration’s budget request released today. NAPAWF praised the decision to strike Hyde Amendment funding restrictions and include full federal funding for abortion care for the District of Columbia as budget priorities that will directly benefit AAPI women.
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum Executive Director Sung Yeon Choimorrow issued the following statement:
“By rejecting antiquated and unjust policies that deny pregnant people access to reproductive health care, the Biden administration is taking a big step forward toward a future where people can realize their reproductive rights, regardless of income. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women, especially immigrants, often face barriers to accessing reproductive health care because of racial discrimination and income disparities. The Hyde Amendment’s limitation on federal health program funding for abortion care only deepens these injustices. As the fastest-growing voting group in the country, the 2020 election turnout of AAPI women helped secure President Biden’s margin of victory. AAPI women have made their voices heard loud and clear: we demand equal access to health care, including reproductive care.
“In addition, eliminating federal funding restrictions for abortion care in the District of Columbia is essential to upholding the civil rights of pregnant people in D.C. While NAPAWF will continue to stand with D.C. residents in their fight for full federal representation in Congress, eliminating federal interference in reproductive health in D.C. will provide relief in the near term.
“We call on Congress to reflect the will of the president, AAPI communities, and people across the country by passing these important reproductive health funding into law.”
AAPI women, according to NAPAWF’s recent landmark study, reported historic turnout for the 2020 presidential election at 69%, much higher than the national turnout rate, with many being first-time voters. The study further found that nearly two-thirds of AAPI women support abortion access in all or most cases, while the top concern for three in four AAPI women is access to affordable health care. The poll, which The Harris Poll conducted on behalf of NAPAWF, is the largest survey of AAPI women ever conducted.
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The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) is the only multi-issue, progressive, community organizing and policy advocacy organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and girls in the U.S. NAPAWF’s mission is to build collective power so that all AAPI women and girls can have full agency over our lives, our families, and our communities.