House Passes Rep. Brownley’s Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act

Legislation provides equally accessible healthcare for veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C— Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 239, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, introduced by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health Chairwoman Julia Brownley. This legislation passed through the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs with bipartisan support and passed the House unanimously last Congress, but failed to pass on the House floor last week after the Family Research Council mobilized the Freedom Caucus against the bill. This critical legislation will ensure veterans have the same access to contraceptives as non-veterans and aligns with Chairman Takano’s priority to support women veterans.

“I am so proud that my House colleagues came together again to pass Rep. Brownley’s vital legislation despite efforts to tank this bill and limit veterans’ healthcare access,” said Chairman Takano. “This bill brings veterans’ contraception coverage on par with care they received while in service from the Department of Defense and coverage required by private health insurance providers to all women in the United States since 2010 — all women except those who seek their care from VA. This is about healthcare, access, and equity for women veterans. I thank Ranking Member Bost and Minority Leader McCarthy for their leadership in support of this bipartisan bill and look forward to its passage in the Senate. ”

“Choosing when, or if, to have a family, is essential to women’s health and to their economic security. The Equal Access to Contraception Act is another step toward ensuring all women have access to comprehensive contraceptive and reproductive healthcare,” said Congresswoman Brownley. “As Chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force, I am committed to identifying disparities in healthcare for women veterans and, where necessary, to introduce, advocate, and pass legislation that addresses those gaps. After House Republicans’ attempt to kill this bill last week, House Democrats stepped up to ensure the voices of our women veterans are heard. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for our country, it is past time we ensure all veterans have equal access to healthcare, including contraceptive care. We owe them nothing less.”

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