The United States Department of Veterans Affairs announced for the first time Friday last week that it would be providing abortion services to veterans. The procedure will be provided for pregnancies due to rape, incest, or if the pregnancy poses a risk to the mother’s health.
The Veterans Affairs Department announced Friday last week that abortion services would be provided to veterans in cases of rape, incest, or health risks. The procedure would also be available in states where the practice is banned or restricted.
The agency cited the surge of states that are enacting abortion bans or restrictions following the Supreme Court’s overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.
The agency said the policy was made in order to “protect the lives and health of veterans” and that the rule aimed to “avert imminent and future harm” to veterans in its policy document.
“This is a patient safety decision,” said Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough in a statement.
Democratic Rep. Mark Takano, who chairs the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, praised the decision, while ranking member Republican Rep. Mike Bost, criticized the move.
The issue of abortion rights is expected to be a key issue in the upcoming midterm elections in November in state legislatures while also determining which party has control of one or both chambers of Congress.
The Democratic Party is looking to use the outrage from the Supreme Court’s ruling in the hopes of maintaining the majorities in both the House and the Senate, which is becoming likely.
The department said Veterans Affairs healthcare providers would determine whether the pregnancy is a risk to the life and health of a veteran on a case-by-case basis. The department noted that self-reporting by the veteran on cases of rape or incest would be enough evidence to justify the abortion.
Over the weekend, US Customs officials reported that nine migrants died trying to cross the Rio Grande river to enter the United States as a warning to migrants not to cross. 37 migrants were rescued from the river as border patrol said more rain was to be expected in the coming week.