WASHINGTON, D.C.–The Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act of 2021 passed the U.S. House Thursday, with support from Indiana’s Rep. Frank Mrvan (D). Most Republicans opposed the bill.
“It is not acceptable today that women veterans do not have access to the same contraception coverage that all American currently have available through the Affordable Care Act or private insurance,” said Mrvan, voicing his support on the House floor.
While veterans can get contraception without charge if they are covered by TRICARE, veterans using the VA are not covered.
“Woman veterans are the fastest-growing group of veterans enrolling in the Dept. of Veterans Affairs health care system,” said Mrvan. “It is time that our policies for women veterans show them the support, respect and fairness that they deserve.”
Some Republicans who opposed the bill equated taxpayer-funded contraception with taxpayer-funded abortion. The measure failed to pass last week in a quicker process, but passed Thursday when reconsidered. It still did not have much Republican support.
“Contraception stops a woman from becoming pregnant. The Plan B pill kills a baby in the womb once a woman is already pregnant,” said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). “Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act is not contraception, it’s providing with taxpayer dollars the ability for women to have an abortion.”
Thursday’s vote was 245 to 181, with 26 Republicans voting in favor. Republican Trey Hollingsworth joined Mrvan and Democrat Andre Carson in supporting the bill.
