Protect Reproductive Healthcare for Women Veterans at VA Facilities.

Today I’m writing to urge you to oppose the proposed regulation by VA Administrator Doug Collins and his staff to reinstate the ban on abortion services at the VA. The narrow exception proposed by Collins is a very limited exception for life-threatening circumstances. This is a dangerous and harmful policy decision that will put women veterans' health and lives at risk. Women who receive care through the VA medical system often have high rates of service-connected disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions like PTSD, and other complex health needs. Denying them access to comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion services and counseling in cases beyond merely life-threatening situations, ignores the realities and nuances of their healthcare requirements. This policy change would make the VA's abortion rules more restrictive than other federal healthcare providers like the Department of Defense, which allow abortions in cases of rape and incest. It dismisses the unique challenges faced by women veterans, many of whom are survivors of military sexual trauma. Forcing pregnant veterans to carry pregnancies resulting from rape or incest to term, or denying them the ability to make informed decisions about their health with proper counseling from trusted VA providers, is unconscionably cruel. Furthermore, the notice in the Federal Register falsely claims that the pre-2022 rule did not prevent VA from covering abortions in life-threatening situations. This is factually incorrect, as confirmed by the Congressional Research Service's analysis that the VA did not cover abortions or abortion counseling under any circumstances prior to 2022. Reverting to those draconian restrictions, compounded by the vague and subjective "life endangerment" exception, will undoubtedly lead to delays, denials, and deadly consequences for women veterans in need of this essential healthcare service. As a constituent and someone that knows women veterans, I urge you to forcefully oppose this policy, and instead to uphold the health, autonomy, and dignity of women veterans. Thank you for your attention to this matter.