“Nobody sacrifices more for our country than servicewomen and their families, and they deserve high-quality, evidence-based health care. The Access to Contraception for Women Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2014, introduced in the Senate today, would ensure that those who rely on the military for health care have the contraceptive coverage and family planning counseling they need. We commend Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and the legislation’s 15 co-sponsors, for championing this bill.

This legislation would require TRICARE to cover all FDA-approved methods of contraception without cost-sharing, and the Department of Defense (DoD) to use evidence-based standards when counseling on and prescribing birth control. With 97 percent of servicewomen of childbearing age, and two in five deployed servicewomen reporting difficulty obtaining refills for their contraception, passage of this bill should be a high priority. Importantly, the bill also would require the DoD to develop a uniform standard curriculum for family planning education programs, and improve access to emergency contraception for servicewomen who survive sexual assault.

We strongly encourage every member of Congress who cares about the health and well-being of servicewomen and military families to prioritize its passage. Those who sacrifice so much for our country deserve nothing less.”