Bringing Women Veterans’ Priorities to Congress: Testimony on Healthcare, Reproductive Rights, and Military Service Policy
March 16, 2026
During a recent joint hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the Service Women’s Action Network brought the perspectives of women veterans directly before lawmakers as part of the annual Veterans Service Organization legislative presentations. Policy Director Rita Grahamdelivered testimony outlining key areas where federal action is needed to ensure that the veterans’ healthcare and benefits system adequately reflects the realities of women’s military service. The hearing focused on building congressional consensus around improving health research, restoring comprehensive reproductive care, and safeguarding evidence-based policies that shape women’s participation in the armed forces.
One central issue raised during the hearing concerned gaps in research on toxic exposure and reproductive health among women veterans. While the PACT Act marked a major step toward addressing service-related toxic exposures, testimony emphasized that significant data gaps remain for women. Advocates urged Congress to support gender-disaggregated reporting on exposure-related claims and outcomes and to prioritize research on reproductive health impacts, particularly as women veterans report higher rates of infertility than civilian women. Lawmakers were encouraged to establish clearer treatment pathways for veterans experiencing service-connected infertility linked to environmental exposures encountered in military settings.
The testimony also addressed the need to restore comprehensive reproductive healthcare access within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and to maintain evidence-based policies governing women’s military service. Advocates highlighted the impact of the VA’s reversal of its 2022 policy allowing abortion services in cases of rape or incest, noting the importance of providing appropriate care for survivors of military sexual trauma. Finally, Congress was urged to maintain oversight of policies affecting women’s participation in combat roles, recognizing that decisions about military service today will directly shape the future population of women veterans and the systems designed to support them.
To read the full story, see here
March 16, 2026
Bringing Women Veterans’ Priorities to Congress: Testimony on Healthcare, Reproductive Rights, and Military Service Policy
March 16, 2026
During a recent joint hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the Service Women’s Action Network brought the perspectives of women veterans directly before lawmakers as part of the annual Veterans Service Organization legislative presentations. Policy Director Rita Grahamdelivered testimony outlining key areas where federal action is needed to ensure that the veterans’ healthcare and benefits system adequately reflects the realities of women’s military service. The hearing focused on building congressional consensus around improving health research, restoring comprehensive reproductive care, and safeguarding evidence-based policies that shape women’s participation in the armed forces.
One central issue raised during the hearing concerned gaps in research on toxic exposure and reproductive health among women veterans. While the PACT Act marked a major step toward addressing service-related toxic exposures, testimony emphasized that significant data gaps remain for women. Advocates urged Congress to support gender-disaggregated reporting on exposure-related claims and outcomes and to prioritize research on reproductive health impacts, particularly as women veterans report higher rates of infertility than civilian women. Lawmakers were encouraged to establish clearer treatment pathways for veterans experiencing service-connected infertility linked to environmental exposures encountered in military settings.
The testimony also addressed the need to restore comprehensive reproductive healthcare access within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and to maintain evidence-based policies governing women’s military service. Advocates highlighted the impact of the VA’s reversal of its 2022 policy allowing abortion services in cases of rape or incest, noting the importance of providing appropriate care for survivors of military sexual trauma. Finally, Congress was urged to maintain oversight of policies affecting women’s participation in combat roles, recognizing that decisions about military service today will directly shape the future population of women veterans and the systems designed to support them.
To read the full story, see here
