Washington, DC – In response to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs publication of an Interim Final Rule on expanded access to reproductive health care, House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health Chairwoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) released the following statement:
“I applaud President Biden and Secretary McDonough’s recent decision to advance VA’s mission to ensure veterans have access to the comprehensive reproductive care they deserve including abortion counseling and services. Every federal agency involved in the delivery of health care, from the U.S Department of Defense to the Indian Health Service, have long provided abortion services.
“Women veterans who have served our nation in uniform should have access to a full range of reproductive health care. While the scope of this new rule is limited, it is an important step forward for VA. In my work on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I have long advocated for a comprehensive range of reproductive health care services for all veterans – and I will continue to do just that. This rule will undoubtedly save the lives of women veterans, which is of paramount importance.”
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Issues: 117th Congress, Veterans' Affairs, Women Veterans Task Force