Hirono, Duckworth, Underwood Reignite Push to Expand Access to Contraceptive Care for Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), both members of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, along with Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL) in reintroducing legislation that would improve Veterans' access to contraception and increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness for contraceptive products at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Access to Contraception Expansion for Veterans (ACE Veterans) Act would allow Veterans to request a full-year supply of contraceptive products from the VA-the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States-and require VA providers to inform patients of their option to request a full year of contraception at the time of the prescription being issued.

"As the Trump Administration and Republicans across the country work to limit or ban access to contraception, legislation like the ACE Veterans Act is more important than ever," said Senator Hirono. "Our veterans shouldn't have to face barriers to accessing contraception or experience gaps between prescription refills. I'm proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this bill to help ensure the people who bravely served our country can access the critical preventive care they need."

Missing more than two consecutive contraceptive pills can increase a woman's chance of contraceptive failure and the potential for unintended pregnancy, which has been linked to adverse health effects including maternal depression, intimate partner violence, low birth weight, preterm birth and infant mortality. In 2022, the VA expanded the amount of oral contraceptives patients can receive to a 12-month supply-this marked important progress, but the policy still allows for more restrictive dispensing limitations, depending on the type of contraceptive.

The VA's current policy also doesn't require its providers to inform patients they have the option to receive a 12-month supply of certain contraceptives at the time the prescription is issued. By addressing these two weaknesses in the current VA policy, the ACE Veterans Act would help women Veterans get the contraceptive care they need and reduce their rate of unintended pregnancies-improving the reliability of our heroes' health care and saving a substantial amount of taxpayer dollars.

Along with Senators Hirono and Duckworth, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), John Fetterman (D-PA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

The ACE Veterans Act is endorsed by AMVETS, Service Womens Action Network, Women Veterans Interactive and the National Women's Law Center.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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