U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) is leading efforts to demand the Department of Veterans Affairs rescind their new rule that is providing abortion services through the VA healthcare system. Clyde and U.S. Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX) led 43 colleagues late last week in sending a letter with this demand to Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough.
In the letter, Clyde and his colleagues blasted the VA’s interim rule, calling it another “attempt by the Biden Administration to circumvent the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs and disregard the wishes of the majority of the American voters.”
“We demand that you rescind this rule immediately and we request that you provide your department’s response by September 15.
The letter also explains that Secretary McDonough’s “misguided decision is using taxpayer dollars to conduct this heinous action, which is a direct attack on the consciences of countless Americans and goes against decades of precedent prohibiting taxpayer-funded abortions.”
“The VA should be focused on providing timely, high-quality care to our nation’s veterans, not murdering precious citizens with taxpayer dollars,” said Clyde. “If Secretary McDonough refuses to rescind this reprehensible and unlawful rule, Congress must swiftly hold the Biden Administration accountable for this unprecedented overreach and abuse of power.”
The letter states that the VA is knowingly violating current law as the Hyde Amendment restricts abortions for active members of the military. Also, the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 “explicitly prohibits the VA from providing abortion services,” according to Clyde.
“Both are still the law of the land,” the letter says.
Calling the Department’s decision to expand and promote abortion services “blatantly illegal,” the letter demands the department “reverse course immediately or we will be forced to take further action.”
Other members of the Georgia delegation signing the letter are U.S. Reps. Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Jody Hice (R-GA) and Barry Loudermilk (R-GA).
