Democratic Women’s Caucus Urges Trump Admin to Rescind Proposed Rule to Ban Abortion Care for Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) members fought against the Trump administration’s Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposed rule to reinstate a near-total ban on abortion care and abortion counseling, including for veterans who have been raped or whose pregnancy is threatening their health.

Democratic Women’s Caucus members Julia Brownley (CA-26) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) urged the VA to reconsider the rule at a press conference hosted by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT):

“I stand here today as a proud member of the Democratic Women’s Caucus to say unequivocally, we will fight every single day for women veterans' access to abortion care. At the Democratic Women's Caucus, we know a simple truth: Freedom means little if you have no bodily autonomy. If we can’t control our futures, our health, what does that mean? That is why our Caucus is united in this fight, and we won’t stop until every servicewoman and every veteran can access the reproductive care they need to thrive,” said Democratic Women’s Caucus member Maxine Dexter (OR-03). 

Democratic Women’s Caucus Servicewomen, Women Veterans, and Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06) and member Julia Brownley (CA-26) also joined veteran advocates to emphasize the harms of the rule on a Free & Just press call:

“The Trump administration is politicizing medical decisions that should be strictly personal and between a woman and her doctor, all to score cheap political points and hurt the health of women. This is not only dangerous, but it flies in the face of the promises that we make to care for those people who take the oath to protect this nation. They do, and we do, deserve better, far better.” said Democratic Women’s Caucus Servicewomen, Women Veterans, and Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06).

“Veterans fought to defend our freedoms. They should not have to fight again for their own health care and their own freedoms. But here’s the truth. We can’t do this alone. We must educate the American people and demand that Congress act. This is a fight we must win because the lives of women veterans depend on it,” said Democratic Women’s Caucus member Julia Brownley (CA-26).

Additionally, Chair Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), RFC Co-Chairs Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) led 229 of their colleagues in submitting a public comment letter in strong opposition to the Trump administration’s VA proposed rule.

In the letter, they explained how the rule is a betrayal of the women veterans who’ve sacrificed everything for our country:

“This incredibly dangerous and reckless rule change will take away essential health care for veterans and beneficiaries of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA),” the lawmakers wrote in their public comment letter responding to the proposed rule. “For the past three years, these patients have been able to obtain comprehensive pregnancy counseling, including information about abortion services, and abortion care in cases of rape, incest, or life or health endangerment. This proposed rule seriously calls into question whether the Department is putting political allegiances and culture wars ahead of its sacred obligation to deliver quality, life-saving health care to veterans, including the more than 462,000 women veterans of reproductive age enrolled in VA health care.”

This letter was endorsed by: Reproductive Freedom for All, the National Council of Jewish Women, the National Women's Law Center, Minority Veterans of America, Power to Decide, the National Partnership for Women & Families, Physicians for Reproductive Health, the Center for Reproductive Rights, the Guttmacher Institute, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Service Women's Action Network. 

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