Democrats Plan to Prioritize Abortion Bills in 2027

A House Democratic working group memo recommends codifying abortion rights and funding elective abortions within the first 100 hours of the session.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Legislative Policy

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a simplified domed legislative building silhouette in deep red and cream against a plain sky. — House Democrats are preparing to prioritize codifying abortion rights and funding elective abortions in the 2027 legislative session, according to a September memo. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Democrats will enter the 2027 legislative session with majorities in the House and Senate, and a House Democratic working group has recommended prioritizing abortion-related legislation. The memo, dated Sept. 1 and published by Politico on Sept. 25, proposes codifying Roe v. Wade and advancing tax-funded elective abortions.

Why it matters

The proposals would target long-standing federal restrictions, including the Hyde Amendment, which has barred federal funds for elective abortions since 1976. If enacted, they would shift federal health coverage policy for government workers, Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP enrollees.

The working group memo, dated Sept. 1, recommends prioritizing codifying abortion rights and funding elective abortions within the first 100 hours of the session. Democrats' seat counts remain provisional, with at least 253 House and 54 Senate seats not yet finalized.

The players

Hakeem Jeffries

Jeffries is the House Democratic Leader who created the Cost-of-Living Healthcare Working Group.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Ocasio-Cortez is a New York Democratic representative who co-led the working group.

Terri Sewell

Sewell is an Alabama Democratic representative who co-led the working group.

Politico

Politico is a Washington-based political news outlet that published the working group memo.

The details

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries created a Cost-of-Living Healthcare Working Group led by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Terri Sewell. The memo points to the Women's Health Protection Act, first introduced in 2013, and the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act, which would end the Hyde Amendment's restriction on federal funding for elective abortions.

1976: The Hyde Amendment is first included in spending bills.
2013: The Women's Health Protection Act is first introduced.
Sept. 1: The working group memo is dated.
Sept. 25: Politico publishes the memo.
Jan. 3, 2027: Incoming members of Congress are sworn in at noon.

Legislative Context

The push to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which has barred federal funds for elective abortions since 1976, builds on the Women's Health Protection Act first introduced in 2013. Democrats' plan would revisit that decades-old restriction if they secure majorities in the 2027 session.

If the proposals pass, federal health plans covering government workers, Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP enrollees could begin covering elective abortions. The working group's priorities would apply to the 2027 session, so readers in those programs would see any changes in coverage rules only after enactment.

The takeaway

The 2027 session could set up a major fight over federal abortion funding, with the Hyde Amendment at the center. Readers tracking federal health coverage should watch how the first 100 hours of the session unfold.

What happens next

The incoming Congress members will be sworn in at noon on Jan. 3, 2027, when the session begins and the working group's priorities could be introduced.