“No Peace Corps volunteer should have her life endangered because she cannot access a medical procedure that is safe and legal in the United States. It is outrageous that our country has long had a double standard in place, providing coverage for abortion care for most women who get their health coverage from the federal government but not for Peace Corps volunteers. That must change, and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) is performing a huge service by introducing and championing the Peace Corps Equity Act of 2013. This is badly needed legislation that will promote the health and safety of vulnerable American women: Peace Corps volunteers serving abroad who experience sexual violence or whose pregnancies would endanger their lives.

We urge all members of Congress to put aside their political agendas and support this legislation, which both houses should pass without controversy or delay. It is the right, just and compassionate thing to do for women who serve their country through the Peace Corps, and a step toward the full coverage for comprehensive reproductive health services that all women deserve.”