1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

As your constituent, I urge you to reject any year-end spending bill, continuing resolution, or National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report that includes policy riders restricting access to reproductive healthcare. Voters across the country—including in states like Missouri and Nevada—have repeatedly reaffirmed strong public support for protecting reproductive healthcare access. With Congress facing a December 11 federal funding deadline, must-pass legislation should not be weaponized to impose controversial policy restrictions that cannot pass on their own merit. Specific policy riders currently inserted into House-passed bills undermine access for military families, veterans, and low-income individuals: - Defense Appropriations & NDAA (H.R. 8800): Language barring federal funding for service members and dependents seeking travel reimbursement for out-of-state reproductive healthcare services compromises military readiness and health equity. Similar riders were rightfully stripped from final defense legislation in previous sessions. - MilCon-VA Appropriations (H.R. 8469): Provisions restricting counseling or comprehensive healthcare access at Veterans Affairs facilities penalize those who served our nation. - Healthcare Provider & Emergency Care Restrictions: Riders attempting to block federal funds from community health centers, Title X family planning clinics, and safety-net providers—or attempting to undermine Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) requirements—put essential healthcare out of reach for millions of families. Must-pass government funding bills must remain focused on maintaining core federal operations, national defense, and public services. I urge you to take direct legislative action: 1. Strip Health Riders in Conference: Demand the removal of all provisions restricting reproductive healthcare access, travel reimbursement, or medical counseling from the final NDAA and defense spending packages. 2. Protect Essential Healthcare Networks: Oppose any rider barring federal funding from Title X clinics, community health centers, or qualified healthcare providers. 3. Preserve Emergency Care & FDA Standards: Reject language that limits EMTALA emergency care protections or restricts access to FDA-approved medications. 4. Demand Clean Spending Package Votes: Vote NO on any final spending bill or continuing resolution that retains ideological policy riders restricting healthcare. Pass clean funding legislation before the December 11 deadline. Congress must fulfill its basic duty to keep the government open without attaching ideological restrictions that put healthcare out of reach for millions of Americans, including service members and veterans.