Born in the Parkchester neighborhood of The Bronx, Alexandria’s parents moved the family 30 minutes north to Yorktown in search of a stronger public school for her and her brother. Alexandria’s mother was born and raised in Puerto Rico and worked throughout her childhood as a domestic worker. Alexandria’s father was a second-generation Bronxite, who ran a small business in The Bronx. Throughout her childhood, Representative Ocasio-Cortez traveled regularly to The Bronx to spend time with her extended family. From an early age, the stark contrast in educational opportunities available to her and her cousins, based on their respective zip codes, made an impression on her.
Rep. AOC believes that now is the time to codify the reproductive rights afforded by Roe v. Wade into law. That is why she proudly co-sponsored and voted for the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), which would legislatively protect abortion rights. As a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Rep. AOC also supports repealing the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal Medicaid funds from being used to cover abortion care and, in so doing, denies healthcare to millions of low-income families. For more on the Congresswoman’s work on this issue, please read on below.