Chairman Takano's Statement on VA's Regulation to Allow Abortion Counseling and Abortions in Certain Cases

Statement

Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement on Secretary Denis McDonough's interim final rule to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide abortion counseling and abortions in cases of incest, rape, and life or health of the woman, covering these services for the first time for veterans and beneficiaries of the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA):

"I applaud President Biden and Secretary McDonough for taking this action. I am pleased that VA is reversing its longstanding and unjust prohibitions on abortion and abortion counseling. By allowing abortion counseling and furnishing abortions in the cases of incest, rape and to protect the life and health of the woman, VA will now be on par with all other federal healthcare programs," said Chairman Takano. "This is a strong first step, but more needs to be done. As the largest integrated healthcare network in the United States, VA has a responsibility to serve all veterans and their unique needs--something this Committee has been continually advocating for and advancing under my leadership. That includes equitable and unrestricted access to the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, without exceptions. I will continue to fight to achieve that goal."

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