Brownley, Democratic Women’s Caucus Unveil Women’s Healthcare Legislative Slate on Dobbs Anniversary

Washington, DC - Wednesday, June 24, on the fourth anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) joined all 96 members of the Democratic Women's Caucus (DWC) in releasing the Women's Healthcare Legislative Slate. The second in a series of legislative packages aligned with DWC's Better Future Agenda, the Women's Healthcare Slate is a diverse set of bills grounded in one goal: a future where all women and families have affordable, accessible healthcare.

Several bills drafted by Congresswoman Brownley appear on the Women's Healthcare Slate, most notably legislation that highlights her career-long dedication to women veterans' health.

"Four years after the Dobbs decision, women veterans are still facing political attacks on their reproductive freedom," said Congresswoman Julia Brownley. "This comprehensive Healthcare Slate would protect and strengthen access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care services for veterans, including contraception, infertility treatment, menopause care, and abortion care. Women veterans deserve access to a full spectrum of reproductive health care services and the freedom to make their own health care decisions in consultation with their doctors, not politicians. As attacks on reproductive rights continue, we must ensure that veterans can access the care, services, and support they have earned through their service to our nation.

The following bills authored by Congresswoman Brownley were included in the DWC Healthcare Slate:

• H.R. 4876 - Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act: This bill would guarantee that veterans and eligible dependents have the right to receive abortion care, medication, and counseling through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), without interference from political appointees or partisan agendas, and protected by law. Currently, the Trump administration's proposed rule would reinstate VA's near-total abortion ban, including in cases of rape or incest, and if finalized, would strip access to care for veterans across the country, forcing them to either go without essential reproductive health services or seek care outside the VA.
• H.R. 220 - Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2025: This bill would make infertility care, including assisted reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization, part of the medical services provided by VA to any veteran and/or their partner who needs infertility care to achieve a pregnancy, allow IVF for up to three successful pregnancies or six attempted cycles, and codify a veteran's ability to use donated gametes and embryos. This bill would codify this expanded eligibility criteria for infertility treatment, preventing the Trump administration from easily rolling back these changes.
• H.R. 211 - Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act: This bill would eliminate the disparities preventing women veterans from accessing basic contraceptive services by eliminating co-payments for contraception covered by VA. While duty service members can receive healthcare, including basic contraception access, without co-pays through TRICARE, women veterans using VA healthcare are currently denied this access. Women veterans should not suffer greater obstacles to accessing basic contraceptive access purely because they rely on VA for healthcare. This bill is a significant step toward ensuring all women have access to comprehensive contraceptive care.
• H.R. 219 - Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act of 2025: This bill would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study and report on the medical services furnished by VA to veterans experiencing perimenopause, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and menopause stages. The bill would also require the VA to report to Congress on a strategic plan to (1) implement any recommendations GAO makes in its report, (2) improve the quality of menopause care, and (3) improve the access of veterans to menopause care. It is paramount that the women who have served our country can age with the dignity and care they deserve.
• H.J.Res.144 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services": This joint resolution disapproves of the harmful December 2025 Trump Administration rule that prohibits VA from providing abortion care and services. Trump's order rescinded a VA reproductive healthcare regulation that provided veterans access to abortion care in instances of rape, incest, and threat to life or health, and that allowed VA providers to discuss abortion with patients who were experiencing unwanted or high-risk pregnancies and pregnancy complications.

Read the full legislative slate here.

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Issues: 119th Congress, Healthcare