DuPage County officials to vote on removing Congressman Henry Hyde’s name from courthouse

WHEATON, Ill. (WLS) — DuPage County lawmakers are expected to vote Tuesday on whether to remove Henry Hyde’s name from the county courthouse.

The controversy has to do with abortion.

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Henry Hyde was a Republican with a long career in Illinois politics. He represented Illinois in Congress for more than 30 years.

He worked across the aisle for issues like gun control and the family medical leave act.

However he opposed abortion. He helped write the Hyde Amendment which denies abortion access to poor women on Medicaid.

When Hyde passed, the DuPage County Courthouse and other government buildings were renamed after him.

Some individuals argue that his stance on abortion access is outdated in today’s society. Conversely, others criticize his proposition, claiming that it diminishes the congressman’s influence in DuPage County.

During public comment at Tuesday’s meeting, Congressman Hyde’s son Anthony spoke on his father’s legacy.

“My father did not do anything to warrant being ‘canceled,’ and that is the primary goal of this resolution,” he stated. “It is an effort to eliminate and rewrite historical facts. As public servants, we should hold ourselves to a higher standard.”

However, the DuPage County Board Chair has expressed concerns over the Hyde Amendment and message it sends.

“The implication here is that if you are not a woman with a full-time job and insurance, or if you cannot afford private healthcare, you are not entitled to the same level of medical care as others.