Hirono, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Quality Reproductive Health Care to Military Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and 18 colleagues in introducing the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act, bipartisan legislation to ensure military families receive the quality reproductive health care they deserve.

“Reproductive health care is a fundamental right and TRICARE has left behind military members and dependents, making services like counseling and contraception inaccessible,” said Senator Hirono. “Amid the continuous attacks on reproductive health care across the country, this bill will help to ensure that servicemembers and their families have access to safe, quality care they deserve.”

This legislation would bring health care provided to servicemembers in line with current law for civilian populations by ensuring those who receive health care through the military have access to all forms of contraception approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with no health insurance co-pay. The legislation would also guarantee access to emergency contraception for survivors of sexual assault upon their request and require the Department of Defense to develop a comprehensive family planning education program.

The Department of Defense provides health care to millions of women of reproductive age, including servicemembers, guardsmen, reservists, spouses and dependents. Although the Affordable Care Act (ACA) guarantees that employer-sponsored and marketplace health plans cover preventive services for civilians without cost sharing, including all FDA-approved contraceptive methods, counseling and related services, these protections do not apply to coverage through TRICARE, a health care program for uniformed servicemembers and their families. Due to this disparity, active duty service members and dependents of servicemembers are particularly impacted.

The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jon Tester (D-MT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of the bill is available here.

Senator Hirono, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is focused on supporting the military community and advocating for female servicemembers and military families. In June 2022, she urged the DOD to take immediate steps to support and protect female servicemembers seeking abortion services following the Supreme Court’s dangerous and deeply harmful decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. A long-time champion for abortion rights, Senator Hirono is committed to protecting the fundamental right to reproductive care for all. In March 2023, Senator Hirono reintroduced the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance Act, a bicameral bill that would help guarantee abortion coverage–without restrictions–for millions of Americans. Also in March 2023, Senator Hirono led the reintroduction of the Abortion Provider Appreciation Day Resolution, a bicameral congressional resolution honoring abortion providers and clinic staff. In March 2023, Senator Hirono introduced the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2023, federal legislation to guarantee access to abortion, everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans.

###