Bill Summary
The "Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act" is legislation aimed at expanding healthcare services provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, it mandates that the Department of Veterans Affairs include abortion care, counseling, and related services and medications as part of the medical services offered to certain eligible individuals.
The act defines "covered individuals" as veterans who qualify for benefits under established sections of U.S. law. By amending title 38 of the U.S. Code, this law seeks to ensure that veterans and certain dependents have access to comprehensive reproductive health services, reflecting a commitment to supporting the healthcare needs of those who have served in the military.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act" could affect people:
1. **Increased Access to Abortion Services for Veterans**: The legislation ensures that covered veterans and eligible individuals can access abortion care, counseling, and related services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This could lead to improved reproductive health outcomes for those who may have previously faced barriers in accessing such services, such as financial constraints, lack of information, or geographic limitations.
2. **Enhanced Mental Health Support**: By including counseling services as part of the healthcare provided, the Act addresses the mental health needs of veterans who may be facing difficult reproductive choices. This could help reduce the stigma surrounding abortion and provide veterans with the necessary emotional support, potentially leading to better mental health outcomes.
3. **Broader Implications for Veteran Care Policies**: The enactment of this bill could set a precedent for further expansions of healthcare services provided by the VA. It may encourage advocacy for additional reproductive health services and increased attention to women's health issues within the veteran population, leading to a more comprehensive approach to healthcare for veterans and potentially influencing similar legislative efforts in other areas.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4876 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4876
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to provide abortion care, counseling, and related
services and medication to certain individuals who receive health care
furnished by the Secretary, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 5, 2025
Ms. Brownley (for herself, Ms. Norton, Ms. Dexter, Ms. Moore of
Wisconsin, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mr.
Moulton, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Craig, Mr. Gottheimer, Ms. Ross, Ms. Lee of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Peters, Mr. McGarvey, Mr. Takano, Mr. Min, Ms. Garcia
of Texas, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Ms. Strickland, Ms.
Tokuda, Mr. Golden of Maine, Ms. Budzinski, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr.
Sorensen, Ms. Titus, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. Garcia of California,
Mr. Lieu, Ms. Jayapal, Ms. Schrier, Ms. Lois Frankel of Florida, Ms.
Ansari, Ms. Chu, Mr. Levin, Mrs. Fletcher, Ms. Crockett, Mr. Doggett,
Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Carbajal, Mr. Whitesides, Ms. Simon, Mr. Carson, Mr.
Case, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Pocan, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Sanchez,
Ms. Leger Fernandez, Mr. Cohen, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Ms. McBride, Mrs.
Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Morrison, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Bonamici,
Mrs. McClain Delaney, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Mullin, Ms. Randall, Mr.
Casten, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Norcross, Mr. Schneider, Ms.
Barragan, Mr. Bell, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Friedman, Mr.
Olszewski, Mr. Quigley, Ms. Scanlon, Mr. Cisneros, Mr. Pappas, Mr.
Thompson of California, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Riley of New York, Mr. Torres
of New York, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Ms.
DeGette, Ms. Houlahan, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Stansbury, Mr.
Thanedar, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Ms. McClellan, Mr.
Larson of Connecticut, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Ms. Pingree, Ms.
Goodlander, Ms. McCollum, Ms. Underwood, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Stanton, Mr.
Smith of Washington, Ms. Sewell, and Mr. Johnson of Georgia) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to provide abortion care, counseling, and related
services and medication to certain individuals who receive health care
furnished by the Secretary, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Reproductive Freedom for Veterans
Act''.
SEC. 2. ABORTION CARE, COUNSELING, AND RELATED SERVICES AND MEDICATION
FOR CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE FOR HEALTH CARE
FURNISHED BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1720M. Abortion care, counseling, and related services and
medication
``(a) In General.--Hospital care and medical services furnished by
the Secretary to a covered individual under this chapter shall include
abortion and related care, services, counseling, and medication.
``(b) Covered Individual Defined.--The term `covered individual'
means--
``(1) a covered veteran (as defined in section 1703 of this
title); and
``(2) an individual eligible for benefits under subsection
(a) of section 1781 of this title.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
1720L the following new item:
``1720M. Abortion care, counseling, and related services and
medication.''.
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