“The funding bill passed by the Senate on Saturday night lifts the longstanding and deeply unfair ban on coverage for abortion services for Peace Corps volunteers who suffer rape or incest, or whose lives would be endangered by continuing a pregnancy. Saturday’s action means women who serve their country in the Peace Corps will finally have the same abortion coverage as other women who get their health insurance through the federal government.

We thank every member of Congress who fought for this measure, and all those who rejected anti-choice extremism that puts women at risk by voting for it. We are pleased that Peace Corps volunteers finally have the same basic coverage as other women who rely on the government for their insurance coverage. While this is an important step forward for women serving in the Peace Corps, all women deserve access to comprehensive reproductive health services, including abortion care, beyond these limited circumstances.

Peace Corps volunteers had been one of the last groups of women who rely on the federal government for their insurance without coverage for abortion care in cases of rape, incest and life endangerment. Three in five Peace Corps volunteers are women, and it was long past time to end this outrageous ban. President Obama will advance a victory for health care equity when he signs into law the funding bill containing this provision.”