1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The House recently passed a version of the National Defense Authorization Act that includes an attack on the health care of transgender youth whose parents serve in the military. Section 708 prohibits insurance coverage for vital gender-affirming treatments like hormone therapy and puberty blockers for these young people through TRICARE, the military health program. This strips away critical medical care from hundreds of vulnerable kids with gender dysphoria. While constituting just 0.1% of TRICARE's youth beneficiaries, this discriminatory provision targets a small group of transgender military children for purely political reasons. It is unconscionable to leverage a must-pass defense bill to deny counseling, medication, and other potentially life-saving services to these young people based solely on who they are. As your constituent, I urge you to oppose any final defense bill that includes this unacceptable health care ban against transgender military youth and their families. Medical decisions should be made between patients, parents, and doctors - not by politicians. Please stand up for our military families by rejecting this cruel attack on their transgender children's wellbeing and rights. Every young person deserves access to the care they need.