Silver State Times

WASHINGTON, DC – On may 16, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto helped introduce the Protecting Service Members and Military Families’ Access to Health Care Act, which would codify the U.S. Department of Defense policy to ensure servicemembers and their families can access reproductive health care, including abortion services, regardless of the state in which they are stationed. The introduction of the bill comes after Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto joined their colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin underscoring the need to provide servicemembers and their families travel support and paid leave to access reproductive health care services in pro-choice states. 

“Our servicemembers are stationed all across the United States, including in anti-choice states where their rights to access reproductive care is restricted” said Senator Rosen. “This legislation that I’m helping introduce would ensure that our military’s right to access reproductive care is protected regardless of where they serve.”

“As far-right extremists continue their attack on a woman’s right to choose, including the reproductive rights of those serving in our military—I’m working to ensure our service members have access to the health care they need,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Our legislation will make sure our service members and their families can access reproductive health care wherever they are stationed. I won’t stop fighting to protect abortion rights in Nevada and across our country.” 

Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto continue to lead the fight for women’s reproductive rights as states across the country take alarming steps to restrict access to care. Last month, in speeches on the Senate floor, Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto successfully called on their colleagues to protect access to abortion care for veterans and their eligible dependents. They also helped introduce the Women’s Health Protection Act to enshrine Roe v. Wade in federal law and protect millions of women’s access to reproductive health care. Last Congress, Senator Rosen joined Senator Cortez Masto’s Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act, legislation that would ensure legal protections for women traveling across state lines to receive reproductive care.

Original source can be found here.