Republican Montana Sen. Steve Daines sent a letter Tuesday to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Sec. Denis McDonough demanding he immediately rescind the VA’s new rule that allows for abortion services through the VA healthcare system.
In the letter, first obtained by the Daily Caller, Daines demanded the Biden administration reverse a recent rule which would allow VA clinics to provide abortions after the Congressional Research Service (CRS) determined such an action would be illegal.
The VA announced in early September it will begin providing abortion counseling and abortions to Americans who qualify for VA services. (RELATED: Veterans Affairs Hospitals To Begin Providing Abortion Services For First Time Ever)
The rule would make it so VA healthcare workers will be able to perform abortions even in states in which they are illegal.
“I insist that you immediately rescind the illegal IFR [Interim Final Rule] and revert the VA’s policies to the long-standing prior regulation excluding abortion from the VA’s medical benefits package as well as the CHAMPVA program, in conformity with the law and Congressional intent,” Daines wrote in the letter to McDonough.
READ THE LETTER HERE:
(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers
“Instead of focusing on improving care for our nation’s veterans, the Biden administration wants VA clinics to provide taxpayer-funded abortions on demand up to the moment of birth. This blatantly illegal move must be stopped,” Daines told the Caller before sending the letter. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans Demand Veterans Affairs Sec. Denis McDonough Rescind Rule Providing Abortion Services)
The Daily Caller contacted the VA about the letter to which they did not immediately respond.