POWER TO DECIDE APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF THE ACCESS FOR CONTRACEPTION FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND DEPENDENTS ACT OF 2021
(Washington, D.C.) — Today, the Access to Contraception for Military Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2021 was introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA).
In response, Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, CEO, Power to Decide, issued the following statement:
“Our military servicemembers and their families serve our country with distinction. Ensuring they have high-quality contraceptive care to help support their family planning decisions is not only our duty but also our honor. The bill also comes at a critical time. As a result of the pandemic, one-third of women want to delay getting pregnant or want fewer children. The number is even higher among Black and Hispanic women, 44% and 48% respectively.
“The bill would require coverage for the full range of contraceptive methods without cost-sharing for all people enrolled in TRICARE. Such access ensures servicemembers and their military family dependents have the same contraceptive coverage as civilians so they can choose the specific method of birth control that works for them.
“In addition, the bill would provide for a comprehensive family planning education program. Such a resource would provide military families with the information they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. Lastly, the bill would also guarantee survivors of sexual assault, upon their request, access to emergency contraception.
“Currently, some servicemembers and military family dependents face out-of-pocket costs for their contraceptive care that may prevent them from obtaining their desired method. We know that cost barriers to contraceptive care fall hardest on those who already face systemic barriers to achieving their reproductive well-being, specifically Black and brown people, and people with lower incomes. We should be doing everything possible to break down these barriers, provide quality family planning education and make all methods accessible to servicemembers and their families.
“We proudly support the Access to Contraception for Military Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2021. Our servicemembers and their families deserve every form of support that provides them with the opportunity to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant and have a child.”
Power to Decide is a private, non-partisan, non-profit organization that works to ensure all people—no matter who they are, where they live or what their economic status might be—have the power to decide if, when and under what circumstances to get pregnant or have a child. Please visit us at www.PowerToDecide.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
