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RES - 202M65 V <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR REPEAL OF THE HYDE AMENDMENT <br /> AND SUPPORTING THE RIGHT OF ALL WOMEN TO SAFE AND <br /> COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE <br /> WHEREAS , a person ' s bodily autonomy and freedom to make reproductive decisions are <br /> vital to their safety , well - being , economic opportunity , and ability to participate equally in <br /> society ; and <br /> WHEREAS , access to safe , affordable , and comprehensive reproductive health care is a <br /> basic human right and is important for the overall physical and mental health of women <br /> and of transgender and gender- nonconforming individuals who can become pregnant ; <br /> and <br /> WHEREAS , every person has a right to comprehensive , evidence - based information <br /> about the full range of reproductive health care options , and should have access to <br /> comprehensive reproductive health care throughout their lives , regardless of income , <br /> race/ethnicity , age , sexual orientation , gender identity , ability , immigration status , <br /> geographic circumstance , criminal history , and insurance - coverage status ; and <br /> WHEREAS , in 1973 , the US Supreme Court , in a landmark decision , ruled in Roe v Wade <br /> that the US Constitution safeguards a woman ' s ability to make her own personal medical <br /> decisions about whether and when to have children ; and <br /> WHEREAS , in the Whole Woman Is Health v Hellerstedt decision in 2016 , the US <br /> Supreme Court reaffirmed the constitutional right to access abortion ; and <br /> WHEREAS , these decisions have saved lives , strengthened families , and enabled <br /> women to participate more fully in society , and we must guard against efforts to erode the <br /> availability and affordability of abortion and to undermine the protections affirmed by Roe <br /> v Wade ; and <br /> WHEREAS , the Hyde Amendment , passed by Congress on September 30 , 1976 , has for <br /> 44 years impeded access to abortion for low- income women enrolled in Medicaid ; and <br /> WHEREAS , North Carolina law imposes limits on insurance coverage of abortion in the <br /> state Medicaid program ; and <br /> WHEREAS , approximately 400 , 000 women in North Carolina ( including more than 2 , 000 <br /> in Orange County) who qualify for insurance coverage from the federal or state <br /> government — including local , school district , state , and federal employees ; veterans and <br /> military service members ; Native Americans who use the Indian Health Service ; Peace <br /> Corps members ; persons incarcerated in federal prisons ; and those who purchase <br /> insurance through the Affordable Care Act — are subject to bans on insurance coverage <br /> of abortion ; and <br />