DeLauro Statement on U.S. Department of Defense Policies to Ensure Access to Non-Covered Reproductive Health Care
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) released the following statement applauding the release of U.S. Secretary Austin’s memorandum, “Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care,” directing the Department to take a series of actions to ensure servicemembers and their families can access non-covered reproductive health care:
“The policy memos released by Secretary Austin are welcome news. This is a major step forward to protecting reproductive health care for those in our armed forces. Women should not be held hostage by their geography, and women servicemembers who do not have a choice in where they serve and are stationed can face barriers and access to reproductive health care.
“As reproductive rights stand in immense danger, this set of policy recommendations makes clear we are putting our servicemembers and their families first.We must protect and expand the rights of women everywhere. Health care should not be negotiable. Everyone should have the right to make their own health care decisions without interference.
"I remain committed to working with the Administration to build on today’s important actions to ensure full access to reproductive health care."
The new policies will:
- Standardize and extend the timeframe that servicemembers must inform commanders about a pregnancy to generally no later than 20 weeks;
- Grant administrative absence without loss of pay or being charged leave to access or accompany a spouse or dependent who is seeking non-covered reproductive health care, and;
- Provide travel allowances when timely access to non-covered services is not available from the servicemembers’ local duty travel station.
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