Dexter Leads 130 Democrats Demanding VA Protect Abortion Access for Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), House Veterans Affairs Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Julia Brownley (CA-26) and Congresswoman Kelly Morrison, M.D. (MN-03) led 130 House Democrats in demanding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) protect access to reproductive health care for veterans. Dexter, one of six pro-choice physicians in Congress, spent seven years caring for veterans at the VA and serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
The letter comes as Trump and his anti-choice allies are preparing to gut the VA’s abortion access rule—putting veterans’ health and lives at risk. The current policy ensures veterans, and their eligible family members and caregivers, can access abortion care in cases of rape, incest, or threats to life or health. It was put in place by the Biden administration to protect veterans after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
“Denying veterans access to comprehensive reproductive health care is not only cruel—it’s dangerous,” said Congresswoman Dexter. “The VA’s reproductive health promise reflects both medical necessity and our moral obligation to those who have served. Rolling back these critical protections would not only endanger the health and lives of veterans—it would betray the fundamental promise that our government will care for our veterans when they need it most. “
"Over two million women veterans live in the United States—and they comprise the fastest-growing and most diverse group in our military and veteran community. Gutting VA’s Reproductive Health Services rule is a direct and dangerous attack on their rights, putting their health and well-being at risk,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “Women veterans deserve access to essential reproductive health care when they need it most. Denying them that care is a betrayal of our nation’s promise to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. To deny them the care they need and the care they have earned is simply unacceptable."
“Abortion bans put women’s lives at risk,” said Congresswoman Kelly Morrison. “Our veterans put their lives on the line for our country – but they shouldn’t be forced to risk their lives again just because of where they live. No matter what state veterans live in, they should have full confidence they can get the care they need from their local VA. Ripping away veterans’ access to essential health care is simply unconscionable – and we cannot let that happen.”
In the letter, lawmakers urge the VA to withdraw any pending rule that would weaken abortion access and to uphold its obligation to “promote, preserve, or restore” the health of veterans.
“Women’s share of the veterans’ workforce is at an all-time high, and yet the Trump administration insists on dismantling the policies that help them thrive,” said Jaclyn Dean, Director of Congressional Relations for Reproductive Health for the National Partnership for Women & Families. “The VA has a duty to provide care to veterans, including abortion care, especially when 55 % of all women veterans in the US live in states that have banned or are likely to ban abortion. Restrictions on abortion care threaten veterans’ economic security and undermine their autonomy. And denying care to veterans who bravely serve our country is a cruel betrayal. We applaud Representatives Dexter, Brownley, and Morrison for demanding our nation deliver on the obligation our veterans are owed and deserve.”
“Veterans and their loved ones should have access to abortion care when they need it, full stop,” said Jackii Wang, senior legislative analyst at the National Women’s Law Center. “Veterans already face unique and significant health challenges, ranging from PTSD to military sexual trauma, as well as an increased risk of suicide. Denying them access to the complete spectrum of reproductive health care, including abortion, only exacerbates these risks. We call on Secretary Collins to honor the Department's mandate to protect the health and safety of veterans - not implement policies that try to control and dehumanize them. No one should have to travel hundreds of miles, endure financial hardship, or jeopardize their health to receive the care they need. We’re thankful to Representatives Dexter, Brownley, and Morrison for advocating to protect veterans and their loved ones.”
"Everyone deserves access to the full spectrum of reproductive care, including veterans and their loved ones. As physicians, we know that eliminating access to abortion care is not just cruel, it is dangerous and negligent. Providers in the VA should not be stripped of their mission to preserve the health of their patients. We are grateful Representatives Dexter, Brownley, and Morrison are advocating to protect abortion care in the VA,” said Dr. Jamila Perritt, President & CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health and OBGYN in Washington D.C.
"Every veteran deserves the freedom to make the best decisions for themselves and their families—without unnecessary barriers or political interference. The VA's current rule is not just about policy; it's about honoring the dignity, safety, and autonomy of those who have served, especially the most marginalized veterans." said Lindsay Church, Executive Director of Minority Veterans of America.“For veterans who have experienced military sexual trauma, live in rural or restrictive states, or face poverty or discrimination, access to abortion and abortion counseling through the VA can mean the difference between care and crisis. Our government has made a promise to veterans who have sacrificed for this country. Stripping away their access to reproductive health care is a betrayal. We call on the Trump-Vance Administration and all policymakers to prioritize equity, compassion, and doing right by our veteran community.”
The letter was signed by Brownley, Julia; Morrison, Kelly; Amo, Gabe; Ansari, Yassamin; Balint, Becca; Barragán, Nanette; Beatty, Joyce; Bera, Ami; Beyer, Donald; Bonamici, Suzanne; Brown, Shontel; Budzinski, Nikki; Bynum, Janelle; Carbajal, Salud; Carter, Troy; Case, Ed; Castor, Kathy; Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila; Chu, Judy; Cisneros, Gilbert; Clarke, Yvette; Cleaver, Emanuel; Cohen, Steve; Conaway, Herbert; Connolly, Gerald; Costa, Jim; Craig, Angie; Crockett, Jasmine; Crow, Jason; Davis, Danny; DeGette, Diana; Deluzio, Christopher; DeSaulnier, Mark; Doggett, Lloyd; Elfreth, Sarah; Escobar, Veronica; Evans, Dwight; Figures, Shomari; Fletcher, Lizzie; Foster, Bill; Frankel, Lois; Friedman, Laura; Garcia, Robert; Garcia, Sylvia; Goldman, Daniel; Goodlander, Maggie; Gottheimer, Josh; Hayes, Jahana; Houlahan, Chrissy; Hoyle, Val; Ivey, Glenn; Jackson, Jonathan; Jacobs, Sara; Jayapal, Pramila; Johnson, Henry; Johnson, Julie; Kelly, Robin; Kennedy, Timothy; Khanna, Ro; Krishnamoorthi, Raja; Larson, John; Latimer, George; Lee, Summer; Leger Fernandez, Teresa; Levin, Mike; Lofgren, Zoe; Magaziner, Seth; McBath, Lucy; McBride, Sarah; McClain Delaney, April; McClellan, Jennifer; McCollum, Betty; McGarvey, Morgan; McGovern, James; Menendez, Robert; Meng, Grace; Moore, Gwen; Moulton, Seth; Mullin, Kevin; Nadler, Jerrold; Neguse, Joe; Norton, Eleanor; Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria; Olszewski, Johnny; Panetta, Jimmy; Pappas, Chris; Peters, Scott; Pingree, Chellie; Pocan, Mark; Pressley, Ayanna; Quigley, Mike; Ramirez, Delia; Randall, Emily; Ross, Deborah; Salinas, Andrea; Sánchez, Linda; Scanlon, Mary Gay; Schakowsky, Janice; Scott, Robert; Sewell, Terri; Sherrill, Mikie; Smith, Adam; Sorensen, Eric; Stansbury, Melanie; Stanton, Greg; Stevens, Haley; Strickland, Marilyn; Subramanyam, Suhas; Swalwell, Eric; Takano, Mark; Thanedar, Shri; Thompson, Mike; Titus, Dina; Tlaib, Rashida; Tokuda, Jill; Tonko, Paul; Torres, Ritchie; Trahan, Lori; Tran, Derek; Underwood, Lauren; Vargas, Juan; Vasquez, Gabe; Veasey, Marc; Velázquez, Nydia; Vindman, Eugene; Wasserman Schultz, Debbie; Waters, Maxine; Watson Coleman, Bonnie; Williams, Nikema; Wilson, Frederica
The letter was endorsed by the National Women’s Law Center, Power to Decide, Center for Reproductive Rights, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Physicians for Reproductive Health, National Council of Jewish Women, National Partnership for Women & Families, and Minority Veterans of America.
Read the entire text of the letter here.
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