Senators Urge VA to Rescind Unconstitutional Biden Rule Promoting Abortion Services

Strategic Insights -

Senators from the state of Texas, along with 58 members of the House of Representatives, have written to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, urging him to rescind the unconstitutional Biden-era rule that promotes abortion services at VA facilities. The senators argue that the rule conflates health care with abortion services, posing significant medical risks for pregnant women and directly intending to end the life of the unborn child. The Biden rule, implemented in March 2024, has been deemed unlawful by the VA, as it does not have clear statutory authority and contradicts the Veterans Healthcare Act of 1992, which prohibits VA from providing abortion services unless a medical emergency presents a threat to the life of the mother.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Biden rule allows abortion on demand at VA facilities, despite being in violation of federal law and the Veterans Healthcare Act of 1992.
  • The rule was implemented under former VA Secretary Denis McDonough in March 2024, and was later deemed unlawful by the VA under Secretary Doug Collins.
  • The rule conflates health care with abortion services, posing significant medical risks for pregnant women and directly intending to end the life of the unborn child.
  • The VA has been promoting abortion on demand, at any point during pregnancy, under the broad health exception for pregnant women in TRI CARE and CHAMPVA.
  • VA caregivers were instructed to use manipulative and dehumanizing language when discussing pregnancy options with mother-patients, and to emphasize the risks of carrying a pregnancy to term.
  • A recent comprehensive study of the chemical abortion pill found that at least 1 in 10 women experienced a serious adverse event, such as sepsis, infection, or hemorrhaging.
  • The Senators and Representatives who wrote the letter are urging Secretary Collins to reinstate the full exclusion of abortion services from the VA's medical package and CHAMPY A benefits, and to prioritize high-quality health care for pregnant veterans.

Statistics:

  • 865,727 insurance claims were analyzed from 2017 to 2023, showing that at least 1 in 10 women experienced a serious adverse event after taking the chemical abortion pill.
  • The Biden rule was implemented in March 2024, and has been deemed unlawful by the VA.
  • The Veterans Healthcare Act of 1992 prohibits VA from providing abortion services unless a medical emergency presents a threat to the life of the mother.
  • 58 members of the House of Representatives signed the letter to Secretary Collins, urging him to rescind the unconstitutional Biden rule.

Sources:

  • Washington: Office of the Senator John Cornyn
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • The Honorable Douglas A. Collins, Secretary U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • The Veterans Healthcare Act of 1992
  • The Hyde Amendment
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  • Guttmacher Institute
  • Comprehensive study of the chemical abortion pill (2017-2023)