Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Rosendale sent a letter, co-led by Ranking Member Bost, Representatives Chris Smith and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and signed by 134 other representatives, to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Denis McDonough. This letter urges Secretary McDonough to maintain the current laws which prohibit the VA from offering abortions or providing abortion counsel.
“The VA must never use taxpayer dollars to provide abortions or abortion counseling to veterans. To do so would be contrary to the God-given right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness that generations of veterans fought to defend,” the letter stated.
The letter describes the statute prohibiting the VA from offering abortion or abortion counseling to veteran patients.
“The VA should prioritize veterans’ mental health and should assist them with injuries sustained during combat. The right to life is sacred and the VA should be focused on protecting that life, not trying to use taxpayer funds to take it away.” Representative Rosendale (MT-AL) said.
“Our veterans deserve all our thanks for their service and sacrifice to our nation. These American heroes have selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to defend us and our freedom. While we can never fully repay our veterans for their sacrifices, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was created to serve our veterans the way they answered the call to serve our country. It would be a disservice to our veterans — who fought to protect innocent Americans — to have the VA use taxpayer money to kill unborn babies by providing abortions or abortion counseling. This goes against our veterans’ defense of the right to life and protecting the voiceless.” – Representative Steve Scalise, Republican Whip (LA-01)
“I will always stand with my fellow veterans and for the lives of the unborn,” said Ranking Member Bost (IL-12). “I was proud to join so many of my colleagues in sending this letter to Secretary McDonough reaffirming our commitment to protecting the sanctity of life at VA. Under no circumstance should the Biden Administration consider ending the ban against abortions in VA medical facilities.”
“Protecting life and the unborn is one of my top priorities in Congress. Taxpayer dollars should never be used to pay for abortions, including at our veteran healthcare facilities,” said Representative Miller-Meeks (IA-02). “While I appreciate Secretary McDonough’s assurances to Members of Congress that his Department will not pursue rulemaking to add abortion or abortion counseling to their benefits packages, the Secretary should know that the law is already clear on this matter, that the VA cannot pay for abortions. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on this incredibly important issue.”
“Abortion is not health care, it’s a brutal procedure that harms women and ends the lives of unborn children through suction, dismemberment or chemical poisoning,” said Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04), author of 14 veterans laws, including the landmark Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act (PL 107-95). “Current law clearly prevents the Department of Veterans Affairs from paying for abortion, and we expect the Administration to focus instead on providing the true quality health care that veterans have earned and deserve.”