Cosponsor the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act (H.R. 3798)

Current cosponsors: Casten, Castor, Chu, Cisneros, Cohen, Gonzalez (TX), Grijalva, Hayes, Khanna, Kuster, Lawrence, Lee, Nadler, Norton, Pappas, Pingree, Roybal-Allard, Schakowsky

Dear Colleague,

I write to request your support for the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act (H.R. 3798) to give women veterans access to the same contraceptive care as their non-veteran counterparts, without co-pays.

Women veterans now make up the fastest growing group of veterans enrolling in VA health care. Yet, many of their health needs go unaddressed in a VA system that has not evolved to equitably serve a changing population. This includes accessing basic contraceptive
services without a co-pay. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, all women using civilian health insurance may access basic contraceptive services without a co-pay.  Women veterans using VA are currently denied this access. The benefits of contraception are widely
recognized and eliminating cost-sharing barriers can greatly improve access to the full-range of contraception and related counseling that improves women’s health.

As the Chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force, my goal is to identify disparities in health care for women veterans and, where necessary, introduce, advocate for, and pass legislation that fixes those gaps. This bill addresses a critical disparity that
prevents women veterans from having equal access to health care. Recently, the House of Representatives passed the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act, to ensure that
TRICARE provides this basic health benefit to servicemembers and their dependents. My bill would extend those same rights to women veterans. 

The Equal Access to Contraception Act is another step toward ensuring all women have access to comprehensive contraceptive care.  If you would like to co-sponsor the bill, or would like additional information, please email daniel.dick@mail.house.gov or
call x55811.

Sincerely,

/S/

JULIA BROWNLEY

Member of Congress