Republican lawmakers are preparing to send letters to the Veterans Affairs Bureau (VA) advocating for the repeal of rules established during the Biden administration.
This initiative includes representatives such as Michael Cloud from Texas, Michael Cloud from New Jersey, James Lankford of Oklahoma, and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi. They are expressing their support for the proposed rules of the VA while simultaneously calling for the withdrawal of those enacted under Biden, particularly concerning “reproductive health services.”
A letter obtained reveals that these Biden-era rules purportedly permit abortions in VA facilities, which, the authors argue, goes against federal law. They suggest that reverting to the previous VA practices, compliant with 38 CFR 17.38, is necessary, especially reflecting the stance taken during the Trump administration.
The policy in question originally broadened abortion access in VA facilities across the country. Critics have argued that it contradicts the Veterans’ Medical Care Act of 1992 and the Deborah Sampson Act of 2020. They claim that, although state laws may allow for abortions in life-threatening situations, the Biden VA rules pave the way for illegal activities.
Lawmakers have pointed out that the VA’s training materials encourage healthcare providers to present abortion as a primary option for veterans and their families. They argue that this portrayal misrepresents pregnancy benefits and emphasizes potential negatives instead.
In their communications, lawmakers criticized how VA training supposedly instructs providers not to use terms like “baby” or “mother,” opting instead for more clinical language. This approach, they argue, dehumanizes the discussion around pregnancy and presents a biased view of healthcare options.
The letter further asserts that the rules blur the lines between abortion and general healthcare, potentially allowing for “abortion on demand” under vague health exceptions provided by the VA’s programs. Lawmakers are calling on the VA to focus on providing high-quality care for pregnant veterans while also respecting providers’ rights to their own moral beliefs.
They view the current regulations as an unconstitutional excess lacking proper legal grounding. They’ve expressed clear support for Doug Collins, who is leading efforts to exclude abortion services from VA medical packages and related benefits. Their message underscores a commitment to honoring veterans with genuine, quality healthcare as a top priority.
According to officials, 72 other lawmakers have added their signatures to this letter, which has garnered backing from various organizations, including Susan B. Anthony Prolife America and the Family Research Council.
The VA, after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in September 2022, began offering abortion services under the Biden administration, enabling eligible individuals to receive abortion counseling, even in states where such procedures are otherwise banned.
