Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 239) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for limitations on copayments for contraception furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 239

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act''. SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON COPAYMENTS FOR CONTRACEPTION.

Section 1722A(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by striking ``to pay'' and all that follows through the period and inserting ``to pay--''; and

(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:

``(A) an amount in excess of the cost to the Secretary for medication described in paragraph (1); or

``(B) an amount for any contraceptive item for which coverage under health insurance coverage is required without the imposition of any cost-sharing requirement pursuant to section 2713(a)(4) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg-13(a)(4)).''.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. 239.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, contraception access is a crucial element of preventative healthcare and reduces the likelihood that a woman will live in poverty. Copay-free access to contraception is covered under every insurance program in this country, except at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

H.R. 239, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, would eliminate copays on contraceptive items at the Department of Veterans Affairs. I thank Congresswoman Brownley for introducing this bill and for her efforts as chair of the Subcommittee on Health and the Women Veterans Task Force.

Contraception is already widely available at VA, and veterans enrolled at VA can obtain oral contraceptions, shots, skin patches, vaginal rings, and long-acting reversible contraceptives, such as implants or intrauterine devices. In addition, the VA pharmacy dispenses over-the-counter contraceptives, including condoms and emergency contraception.

Even a small copay can be insurmountable for a veteran struggling to make ends meet. Eliminating copays ensures parity with both Federal insurers and private insurers, as mandated under the Affordable Care Act. Most of all, it eliminates an unnecessary financial burden on our veterans.

Furthermore, we know also that every tax dollar spent on family planning, such as contraception, ultimately saves seven times that amount.

Passing this bill is an essential element of both meeting the health and economic well-being of our Nation's veterans.

This legislation has the support of the VA, broad VSO support, and passed on suspension last Congress.

Again, I thank Chairwoman Julia Brownley for her leadership on this issue, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 239.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Brownley), my good friend, the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health, and also the author of this important legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I want to thank Ranking Member Bost for pointing out that the previous ranking member and previous chairman of this committee, an OB/GYN, Representative Roe, stood in firm support of this legislation. I know him to also be someone of very firm pro-life convictions. I am very proud of the bipartisan support that has gathered around Ms. Brownley's legislation.

Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source