A Congressional Review Act resolution has been introduced that would overturn the Trump administration’s new rule ending abortion counseling entirely and abortion care for veterans who have been raped or whose pregnancy is threatening their health.
The CRA was introduced by Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and SVAC Democrats.
“The Trump VA’s new policy’s primary purpose is to prevent women who are victims of rape or incest or whose health is at risk from receiving abortion care,” Blumenthal said in a statement. “We cannot let the Trump administration deprive women veterans of essential health care so they can score cheap political points. Our Congressional Review Act resolution aims to overturn this cruel, misguided action. If my Republican colleagues really believe in protecting women veterans who have been raped or whose health is at risk, they can prove it— simply support this resolution.”
The CRA follows a final rule filed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that would end its ability to provide the services to veterans. It is an oversight tool Congress can use to overturn final rules issued by federal agencies with a simple majority vote.
“Trump’s VA abortion ban is a profound betrayal of women who put their lives on the line for our country — ripping away access to abortion care even when a woman is raped or her pregnancy endangers her health,” said Murray.
In September 2022, VA began offering abortion counseling to all pregnant veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries, and abortion in cases of rape, incest, or life or health endangerment of the veteran or CHAMPVA beneficiary. The move was in response to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, which the senators said created urgent risks to the lives and health of pregnant veterans and CHAMPVA beneficiaries in states that banned or otherwise severely restricted access to abortion.
The joint resolution is cosponsored by SVAC members Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).
According to the senators, more than 462,000 women veterans of reproductive age are enrolled in VA health care, and more than 112,000 women of reproductive age are enrolled in CHAMPVA. More than half of these women live in states that have enacted abortion bans or restrictions.
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Health Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) also introduced a companion CRA resolution in the House to overturn the rule.
The CRA is also endorsed by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Vet Voice Foundation, Minority Veterans of America, Common Defense and 12 other organizations.
The full text of the CRA resolution can be found here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.