US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON: Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) introduced the VA Abortion Transparency Act to impose new abortion reporting requirements on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to create more transparency for taxpayers. In 2022, the Biden administration’s VA announced it would begin facilitating abortions for veterans and their dependents through the taxpayer-funded VA health care system. Despite multiple congressional inquiries and questions regarding the legality of such a change in long-standing policy, the VA implemented the regulation. The VA reported in October 2023 that from September 9, 2022 to September 30, 2023, the agency facilitated 88 abortions. The VA has refused to release updated data regarding additional abortions facilitated since this last report, despite multiple congressional letters requesting the data.
As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Tuberville believes taxpayers deserve to know how the VA is using its resources. Among several data requests, Senator Tuberville’s legislation would mandate quarterly reports on the total number of abortions facilitated through the VA, the method through which the abortions are being conducted, and the number of gestational weeks at which point the abortions are occurring.
“Congress has spoken. The Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 clearly prohibits the VA from providing abortion services of any kind,” said Senator Tuberville. “For the Biden administration to twist the law into something other than what Congress intended and force the cost on the taxpayer is a disgrace. Our veterans deserve a VA that is 100% focused on ensuring they receive timely and quality care, not on implementing Joe Biden’s abortion-on-demand agenda. I am proud to introduce this bill that provides much needed transparency for taxpayers and holds the VA accountable.”
The legislation is supported by Heritage Action, CatholicVote, National Right to Life, March for Life Action, Concerned Women for America, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, and Students for Life Action.
Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), and John Thune (R-SD) are cosponsoring the legislation.
Read the legislation here.
BACKGROUND:
On September 9, 2022, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced its intention to begin providing abortion services for veterans and their dependents through the taxpayer-funded VA health care system. This is a blatant violation of Section 106 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, which explicitly prohibits the VA from providing abortion services.
On February 8, 2023, Senator Tuberville led a group of more than 65 colleagues in introducing this bicameral joint resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to reverse the VA’s abortion rule. The resolution failed to advance for a final vote, 48-51. Two Republicans voted with the majority of Democrats to block the Senate from voting on final passage of the legislation. Senator Tuberville also delivered a floor speech urging his colleagues to support the resolution.
On October 11, 2022, Senator Tuberville joined 38 of his congressional colleagues in a letter to Secretary McDonough opposing the VA’s rule.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
