Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) recently joined 27 of her Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to nullify an illegal U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rule that provides abortion services through the taxpayer-funded VA health care system.
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) led the introduction of the legislation in the Senate. U.S. Representative Michael Cloud (R-Texas-27) introduced companion legislation in the House.
“U.S. taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund abortions, and current federal law clearly prohibits the VA from carrying out this far-left agenda. I’m proud to help introduce this legislation that would overturn this misguided rule and protect the sanctity of life,” said Senator Fischer.
Background:
The VA published the interim final rule in September 2022, just a few months after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision to reverse Roe v. Wade. Not only does the rule set up VA medical facilities to blatantly violate state laws, it’s also in clear conflict with Section 106 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, which explicitly prohibits the VA from providing abortion services. Notably, the rule also extends abortion services to certain veterans’ dependents and fails to provide any conscience protections for VA medical staff.
The resolution is endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro Life-America, March for Life, National Right to Life, Catholic Vote, Heritage Action, and Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee.
In addition to Sens. Fischer and Tuberville, the resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Ted Budd (R-N.C.).
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