WASHINGTON – Joe Biden is facing backlash from fellow 2020 presidential candidates and several liberal organizations after the former vice president's campaign said he still supports the Hyde Amendment, a federal law that blocks federal funding for abortion.

In a statement to NBC News this week, Biden's campaign said he still supports the Hyde Amendment. That statement is inconsistent with what Biden, the front-runner among the nearly two dozen hopefuls in the 2020 Democratic primary field, told a volunteer for the ACLU last month. Then, Biden said he would repeal the 40-year-old law, which blocks federal funds for abortion services in almost all cases except in instances of rape, incest or to save the life of the woman.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has repeatedly denounced the Hyde Amendment, and Biden specifically for his stance supporting it. De Blasio is the only presidential candidate to call out Biden by name on the issue.

"The Hyde Amendment only hurts low income women, especially women of color. If you don’t support repeal, you shouldn’t be the Democratic nominee," De Blasio tweeted.

In a separate tweet he wrote: "And when it comes to supporting American women on issues like repealing the Hyde Amendment, @JoeBiden is Dr. Jekyll."

The Biden campaign did not respond to USA TODAY'S request for comment on De Blasio's remarks.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., who has been a vocal proponent for abortion rights, tweeted that repealing the Hyde Amendment "is critical so that low-income women in particular can have access to the reproductive care they need and deserve."

"Reproductive rights are human rights, period. They should be nonnegotiable for all Democrats," she wrote.

Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., also tweeted: "No woman's access to reproductive health care should be based on how much money she has. We must repeal the Hyde Amendment."

Biden's stance on the Hyde Amendment comes at a time when a number of states have enacted restrictive abortion laws in an effort to get the issue in front of the Supreme Court. The new laws have been met with protests and lawsuits from progressive activists and advocacy groups.

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Most voters, 55%, oppose the so-called fetal heartbeat laws that have been passed in several states, including Alabama, Georgia and Missouri, compared to 45% who support them, according to a USA TODAY/Ipsos poll published Monday.

In addition, 73% of those surveyed said they oppose seeing all abortion facilities in their states close, which might happen in Missouri.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who has polled second to Biden in the crowded Democratic 2020 field, said he would repeal the Hyde Amendment as part of his Medicare for All plan.

"There is #NoMiddleGround on women’s rights. Abortion is a constitutional right. Under my Medicare for All plan, we will repeal the Hyde Amendment," Sanders tweeted.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., tweeted a video from a campaign stop in New Hampshire, where he said he was asked whether he would repeal the Hyde Amendment.

"Of course I would look to repeal the Hyde Amendment, but I would go a lot further than that," he said, adding that he would memorialize Roe v. Wade as a law passed by Congress and would fund Planned Parenthood. He added that he would also only nominate Supreme Court justices, circuit court judges and district court judges that "honor the precedent of Roe v. Wade."

He continued by saying that he would "make sure that we get back to being a society that trusts women to make their own health care decision. It shouldn't be made by a bunch of people in Washington."

Biden has also been criticized for his stance by a number of organizations that have repeatedly supported Democrats.

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NARAL President Ilyse Hogue said in a statement there is "no political or ideological excuse for Joe Biden’s support for the Hyde Amendment, which translates into discrimination against poor women and women of color plain and simple."

Hogue also said that Biden's position continues to endanger women and families "facing enormous hurdles and creates two classes of rights for people in this country, which is inherently undemocratic."

"Differentiating himself from the field this way will not earn Joe Biden any political points and will bring harm to women who are already most vulnerable," Hogue said.

EMILY's List President Stephanie Schriock said in a statement that it is "unacceptable that a major Democratic nominee supports the Hyde Amendment."

"We hope that Vice President Biden will reconsider this position and what it means to millions of women," Schriock said. "There’s simply too much at risk.”

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