Target: Mike Bost, Chair of House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
Goal: Roll back near-total abortion ban enacted against veterans.
In 2022, when the Supreme Court broke its own precedent and stripped away reproductive freedom, many politicians argued the issue was only a matter of states’ rights. Any state would be free to implement its own abortion policies, and no nationwide abortion ban would be forthcoming. Yet a new ruling from the Trump administration may have set the nation down the slippery slope of a full ban.
The Veterans Administration (VA) recently posted a rule change regarding abortions – a change that was made without the usual formal approval process. For the past several years, the 10 million veterans and family members who get healthcare access through the VA have been able to take advantage of abortion counseling and have secured the procedure itself in circumstances of rape, incest, or health endangerment. The new rule will prohibit this access under any circumstance unless a doctor certifies the mother could die if the pregnancy continues. Victims of crimes that result in a pregnancy will no longer even be afforded counseling services. The near-total ban will apply in all 1,200-plus VA facilities, including facilities located in states with no restrictions on abortion.
Sign the petition below to call out this latest government overreach into Americans’ private lives and the latest slap against veterans who have served their country.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Representative Bost,
This committee recently declared itself the final word for millions of Americans when it arbitrarily claimed that no American taxpayers supported reproductive services for hard-working veterans. The VA’s announced near-total abortion ban hurts the very people who honorably fought and sacrificed for America. Contrary to your assertions, many Americans fully support the ability of veterans who are victims of sexual assault and harassment (as many as one-third of female veterans, by some estimates) to access the support and services they need to heal, up to and including abortion and abortion counseling services. Many Americans abide by the notion of the government keeping itself well clear of private decisions made between individuals and their healthcare providers. And many Americans would love for politicians to honor their pledge not to seek a federal abortion ban in any form.
If you truly care about the values and wishes of these Americans, then you will support the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act and honor this committee’s role as an unwavering advocate for all veterans.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: George Pak
