Dear President Joseph Biden, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Kevin McCarthy, Senator James Inhofe, Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Adam Smith, and Congressman Mike Rogers,

We are members of the military community - service members, veterans, survivors, advocates, members of military and veteran service organizations, families, and allies. We have served in peacetime and war and write to express our alarm over the Supreme Court decision to overturn the protections guaranteed in Roe v. Wade and dismantle the constitutional right to abortion. This decision impedes our human rights and civil liberties, and erode our national security. We urge you to take immediate action to address the crisis that service members and their families now face as a result of the inability to access comprehensive, evidence-based reproductive health care.

Abortion bans will disproportionately impact the well-being of our military communities, and threaten recruitment, retention, and overall force readiness. The prevalence of sexual assault in the military makes access to reproductive health care, including abortion, vital to the readiness of our Armed Forces. Sexual violence across all services and academies remains pervasive, despite fervent efforts on the part of advocates, families of victims, and changes to military structures. In spite of recent implementation of changes to address sexual assault and harassment, the Department of Defense has continued to fail to curb this behavior and address the crisis.

Without the protections affirmed in Roe v. Wade, abortion services have become increasingly difficult for service members, survivors, and their families to access and many will be forced to continue a pregnancy against their will. This will disproportionately impact lower enlisted, Black, Indigenous, people of color, and LGBTQ+ service members. It is the duty of the Department of Defense to immediately implement policies to protect service members and their families who are stationed in states that have passed laws that will harm their reproductive freedoms and bodily autonomy. Every person should have access to the care they need - regardless of what they do, where they live, or where they are stationed.

The military faces a growing recruitment and retention problem, the magnitude of which is still unknown. Many Americans are reluctant to join and be stationed in undesirable locations, including states that have restrictive abortion bans. The continued attacks on reproductive health care will cripple operational readiness and calls into question our country’s national security that relies on this readiness and an all-volunteer service.

To protect the reproductive rights of service members and their families, we call upon legislators to:

1. Pass the MARCH for Servicemembers Act and lift current bans on abortion care at military medical treatment facilities and in TRICARE coverage. We urge you to use every tool at your disposal to support abortion access in this current crisis - that includes eliminating harmful federal bans on abortion for service members and their families.
2. Repeal the Department of Veterans Affairs’ abortion bans and provide comprehensive reproductive health care service. Veterans who serve our country cannot receive abortion care through the Department of Veterans Affairs under any circumstances. For those unable to receive care in their home state, travel, transportation, and housing must be provided to the patient.
3. Pass legislation that would mandate the Department of Defense to provide direct financial support to service members and their family members seeking abortion care off-base.
4. Pass legislation that would provide compassionate reassignment for service members who are denied access to sexual and reproductive health care and request relocation. This policy will be extended regardless of race, gender, or gender identity. These requests must be granted immediately on the presumption that this care is time sensitive. All requests shall be collected and reported to Congress annually by state and installation.

We ask for these protections for those who wear the uniform of our nation and for the future generations of service members who are watching our actions in this very moment. We will never stop fighting for a future where we all have the freedom to control our own bodies and live with dignity. It is imperative that our lawmakers do the same.

Signed,

[Signatures Enclosed]

Military Connected Individuals

Brittany Parsons, PA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Aaron Chase, CA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Adam Schneider, IL, Veteran, O-3, Navy

Adrienne Sherk, CA, Veteran, O-2, Army

Alan Perry, CA, Retiree, E-7, Navy

Alexander Quintana, FL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Alexandra Snyder, MD,Veteran, E-5, Navy

Alicia Boyer, VA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Allison Churchill, NY, Veteran, E-5, Army

Allison Jaslow, NC, Veteran, O-3, Army

Amanda Murray, VA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Amy Cook, FL, Retiree, E-7, Air Force

Amy McGrath, KY, Retiree, O-5, Marine Corps

Andrea Rowell, TX, Veteran, E-4, Air Force

Angie Picard, PA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Antoinette Izzo, AZ, Veteran, E-8, Marine Corps

April Poquette, AK, Signed as a Private Citizen

Ashlee Batsom, OK, Signed as a Private Citizen

Ashley Dwyer, WY, Retiree, E-7, Army

Ashley Wallis, CO,Veteran, E-4, Army

Ashlie Hill, FL, Retiree, E-7, Air Force

Barbara Arndt, NJ, Veteran, E-4, Marine Corps

Benjamin Kush, GA, Veteran, O-3, Air Force

Brandon Lewis, FL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Brianna Williams, TX, Signed as a Private Citizen

Brigid K., AL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Brittany Morrow, HI, Signed as a Private Citizen

Cailyn Palmer, FL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Cassaundra Truax, WY, Signed as a Private Citizen

Cassie Byard, OH, Veteran, E-3, Navy

Cathy Torres, CA, Veteran, E-4, Marine Corps

Chelsi Johnson, VA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Chris Harris, FL, Veteran, E-3, Air Force

Christian Record-Jackson, DC, Signed as a Private Citizen

Christina Lowry, OK, Signed as a Private Citizen

Christine Magnan, AZ, Veteran, E-4, Air Force

Christopher Berryman, DE, Veteran, E-6, Marine Corps

Christopher Bryant, CA, Veteran, E-6, Navy

Christopher Purdy, GA, Veteran, E-5, Army

Christopher Smorol, CT, Signed as a Private Citizen

Clayton Tennison, NJ, Signed as a Private Citizen

Clint Mitchell, CO, Retiree, E-7, Army

Colleen Galloway, IL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Cynthia Womble, NC, Retiree, O-6, Navy

Daniel Crothers, GA, Veteran, E-4, Army

Darlene Matthews, CA, Veteran, Army

Dave DeGroot, GA, Signed as a Private Citizen

David Driegert Jr., VA, Veteran, Marine Corps

David Herring, WA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Delilah Santos, FL, Veteran, E-3, Marine Corps

Dennis White, NM, Veteran, E-6, Army

Diana Danis, NE, Veteran, E-5, Army

Dilia Introini, VA, Veteran, E-7, Marine Corps

Edward Carpenter, NC, Retiree, O-5, Marine Corps

Elsa Kania, DC, Signed as a Private Citizen

Emily Smith. SC, Signed as a Private Citizen

Emily Kubusek, OH, Signed as a Private Citizen

Erik Mason, WA, Veteran, E-5, National Guard

Erin Kirk, NJ, Veteran, E-5, Marine Corps

Gary Tourville, CA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Gina Pollut, NJ, Veteran, E-2, Marine Corps

Greg Kilcommons, ME, Veteran, E-5, Marine Corps

Hila Levy, VA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jake Osborne, GA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jason Shelmidine, IL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jayson Harpster, DC, Veteran, E-5, Army

Jeff Danovich, GA, Veteran, E-5, Army

Jeffrey Schmidt, HI, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jennifer Lopes, VA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jennifer Langille, UT, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jennifer Pacanowski, PA, Veteran, E-4, Army

Jerome Gittens, MD, Retiree, O-5, Air Force

Jerri Bell, MD, Retiree, O-4, Navy

Jessica Jenkins, VA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jessica Lewis, TX, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jessica Motsinger, IL, Veteran, E-5, Navy

Jhenna Broussard, TX, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jillian McGhan, MD, Veteran, O-4, Navy

Joanna Dasher, GA, Veteran, O-3, Army

Joanna Kresge, WA, Veteran, E-4, Air Force

John Clark, MD, Signed as a Private Citizen

John Martinez, VA, Veteran, E-4, Army

Jon Hearn, GA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jon Hegwood, WA, Veteran, E-4, Army

Joni Spence, NE, Retiree, E-8, Air Force

Joseph Brogen,VA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Josh Stroh, CA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Joyce Gonzalez, NJ, Veteran, E-5, Marine Corps

Julie Howell, DC, Veteran,E-4, Army

Julissa Mondragon, HI, Veteran, E-3, Marine Corp

Kara Stiles, NM, Veteran, O-3, Air Force

Karen Carmichael, Australia, Veteran, O-5, Air Force

Karina Bloom, NJ, Veteran, E-4, Marine Corps

Kathleen Hoffmanm OR, Veteran, E-5, Army

Kathryn Smith, KS, Veteran, O-2, Air Force

Kayley Squire, FL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Kelly Atkinson, CO, Signed as a Private Citizen

Kelly Fautz, CO, Signed as a Private Citizen

Kelsey Schmittling, AL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Ken Vedaa, VA, Veteran, E-4, Marine Corps

Ken Wederski, TX, Retiree, E-8, Army

Kevin O'Brien, MD, Signed as a Private Citizen

Kimberly Henry, TX, Veteran, E-6, Navy

Kristen Rouse, NY, Signed as a Private Citizen

Kristine Smedley, KY, Retiree, E-8, Army

Lacey Beaty, OR, Veteran, Army

Laurie Graham, WA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Lindsay Church, VA, Veteran, E-5, Navy

Lindsey Knapp, NC, Veteran, O-2, Army

Lindsey Melki, CO, Veteran, O-3 Army

Lisa Gleason, MD, Veteran, E-5, Marine Corps

LoriLee Litman, WA, Veteran, E-4, Army

LtCol Gregg Yetter, MO, Retiree, O-5, Marine Corps

Lucy Del Gaudio, NJ, Veteran, E-4, Army

Maria Seyborne, VA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Maria Woodall, NC, Veteran, E-6, Marine Corps

Mary Richard, CO, Veteran, E-5, Coast Guard

Mary Tennison, NJ, Retiree, E-5, Marine Corps

Megan Cavanaugh, NJ, Veteran, E-5, Marine Corps

Megan Jantos, KS, Signed as a Private Citizen

Meghan Smorol, CT, Signed as a Private Citizen

Melanie King, WA, Veteran, E-6, Air Force

Melissa Santamaria, FL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Mia Renna, IL, Veteran, O-3, Army

Michael Roach, GA, Veteran, E-5, Army

Michelle Montgomery, VA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Mike Lavigne, VA, Retiree, E-9, Army

Natalie Vanatta, NY, Signed as a Private Citizen

Omar Iglesias, NY, Veteran, E-5, Navy

Orlando Miranda, NJ, Signed as a Private Citizen

Pam Campos-Palma, FL, Veteran, E-6, Air Force

Patrick Malone, VA, Retiree, E-6, Air Force

Paul Rieckhoff, NY, Veteran, O-2, Army

Paul Theobald, TX, Veteran, E-3, Navy

Penelope Hardy, WI, Veteran, O-3, Navy

Quinzy Johnson, TX, Retiree, E-7, Army

Rebecca Daffon, NE, Signed as a Private Citizen

Renee Douglas, KS, Signed as a Private Citizen

Rich Rudnickm CA, Veteran, E-5, Navy

Ryan Crane, TX, Signed as a Private Citizen

Ryan Logan, NM, Veteran, E-3, Air Force

Ryan Marriott, FL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Sahara Fales, TX, Signed as a Private Citizen

Sarah Chapman, OH, VeteranE-5Navy

Sarah Klimm, CO, Retiree, E-7, Marine Corps

Sarah Shaw, CO, Veteran, O-4, Air Force

Sean Foley, NC, Retiree, E-7, Army

Sergei Garrison, MA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Shannon Green, VA, Veteran, E-3, Navy

Sheila Farrell, NJ, Retiree, E-8, Army

Shelby Kay-Fantozzi, MD, Signed as a Private Citizen

Stephanie Gattas, TX, Veteran, Navy

Stephanie Kalota, FL, Retiree, E-7, Army

Stephen Mandile, MA, Veteran, E-5, Army

Stephanie Merlo, VA, Veteran, E-4, Army

Stephanie Slye, IN, Signed as a Private Citizen

Steve Kennedy, CT, Veteran, E-4, Army

Stosh Kowalski, VA, Retiree, O-5, Air Force

Sun Vega, VA, Veteran, E-7, Army

Syntia C., FL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Tamekiah Aguirre, VA, Veteran, E-5, Army

Tashandra Poullard, CA, Veteran, E-4, Navy

Thomas Jenkins, OR, Signed as a Private Citizen

Timothy Ullman, NE, Retiree, E-7, Army

Vedia Barnett, MD, Veteran, E-4, Air Force

William Hennesey, VA, Veteran, E-6, Army

William Justice, AR, Retiree, E-8, Army

William Pratt, VA, Veteran, E-4, Army

Zakkary Fulton, FL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Ryan McGraw, TX, Signed as a Private Citizen

Jeffrey Blackman, FL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Morgan Jones, FL, Signed as a Private Citizen

Ashleigh Magee, CA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Sabrina Mohammed, NJ, Signed as a Private Citizen

Veronica Lemus, CA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Brittany Minor, WA, Signed as a Private Citizen

Alison Caughlin, OK, Retiree, E-3, Marine Corps

Kristina Meservey, MA, Retiree, O-4, Navy

Kyra Lindsay, TX, Retiree, E-6, Air Force

Lois Borsay, TX, Retiree, O-5, Army

Joy Craig, DC, Retiree, CWO-2, Marine Corps

Nicole Anderson, FL, Retiree, E-6, Navy

Patrick Ketchum, CA, Retiree, E-6, Army

E. H. Emerson, NY, Retiree, O-5, Navy

Lorraine Romano, South Korea, Veteran, O-6, Navy

Dan Whiting, FL ,Veteran, E-5, Air Force

Micah Snead, PA, Veteran, E-5, Marine Corps

Joanna Kresge, WA, Veteran, E-4, Air Force

Rebecca Murch, WA, Veteran, E-4, Navy

Thomas Zborill, TX, Veteran, E-4, Air Force

Merri Bright, NM, Veteran, Navy, E-3

Alyssa Rodriguez, GA, Veteran, Army, E-5

Eric Goepel, CA, Veteran, Army, E-5

Karen Cicchini, AZ, Veteran, Army, O-3

Chandler Knight, NY, Veteran, Navy, E-5

Karina Reyes, CA, Veteran, National Guard, E-4

Jessica Stewart, NV, Veteran, Marine Corps, E-5

Raven Rogers, TX, Veteran, Army, E-5

Linda Alkove, AZ, Veteran, Air Force, O-3

Khadijah Queen, VA, Veteran, Navy, E-5

Hipolito Arriaga, FL, Veteran, Marine Corps, E-4

Lauren Friedman, OH, Veteran, Navy, O-3

Beth Beeson, AZ, Veteran, Marine Corps, E-4

Virginia Jones, TX, Veteran, Marine Corps, E-5

Kathryn Gilligan, VA, Veteran, Coast Guard, O-3

Megan Parocha, CO, Veteran, Coast Guard, Cadet

Stephanie Gattas, TX, Veteran, Navy, E-4

Aaron S., CA, Veteran, Army, E-4

Monika McKernie, TX, Veteran, Marine Corps, E-3

Danielle Powell, KS, Veteran, Air Force, E-6

Dana Riggs, CA, Veteran, Army, E-4

Christine Guevara, CA, Veteran, Army, O-3

Amy Earl, OH, Veteran, Marine Corps, E-3

Sharon Robino-West, NE, Veteran, Marine Corps, E-4

JoAnn Bolduc, ME, Veteran, Navy, E-5

Michael Turner, FL, Veteran, Marine Corps, E-5

Douglas Estes, OH, Veteran, Navy, E-5

Jewel Coutcher, OH, Veteran, Navy, E-5

Morgayne Love, WA, Veteran, Army, E-6

Robyn Roche-Paull, WA, Veteran, Navy, E-4

Brenda Gascot VA Veteran Army E-5

Michael Young, AK, Veteran, Army, E-5

Brian Dalton, MI, Veteran, Navy, E-3

John Ferrari, NY, Veteran, Marine Corps, E-4

Allies, Supporters, and Defense Civilians

Erin Van Noy, WA

Lin Porter, MS

Sady Albertini, FL

Julie Curl, NM

Krystal Klem, VA

Alexandra Lamancusa, MD

Joseph Curl, , NM

Megan PietruszkaMA

Laura Durnell, IL

Jason Kolb, MI

Khristine Rolfe, NC

Sophie Faaborg-Andersen, MA

Morgan Wills, KS

Jorge A., NY

Leila Zazueta, NM

RobNMAngela, TX

Robyn B., AZ

Perri Myers, NJ

Veronica Pinho, FL

Sheila Lee, WA

Sandrsa Vickery, OH

Susan Gordon, IN

Kit Young, TX

Abigail Breiseth, MD

Stephen Watkins, CA

Shira Schneider, NC

Rafael Mata, NJ

Dr. Hallie Kush, GA

Josephine Chien, VA

Debbie Southee, CO

Gabrielle Hall, MN

Jennifer Spadafino, OH

Soba Spoto, FL

Denise Funk, IN

Jeanine Barsamian, NJ

Lori Siracuse-Parker, NJ

Natalie Sekletar, OH

Abby Beck, IL

Elizabeth Torgersen, WI

Teri Lenahan, OR

Sherrie Simmons, OR

Jennifer Phillips, FL

Jenielle Bailey, IL

Elizabeth W., FL

Ciara Chappell, FL

Maureen G., FL

Anna Myers, MI

Deb McMullin, MD

Rochelle Basterash, WI

Haemish EdgertonvVA

Mary Devine , PA

Craig Baron, VA

Lorna Friemoth, OH

Katrina Kadyszewski, AZ

Alexander Bennett, NY

Luther Elliott, NY, National Development and Research Institutes (NDRI-USA)

Amy Braley Franck, TN, Never Alone Advocacy

Tabitha Burchard, TX

Adelaide Kahn-Fowler, DC, Protect Our Defenders

Amber Fitzwater, MD

Camilla Vance Shadley, NC

Clarissa Campbell, MO

Alexander Campbell, MO

Julia Rascon, MO

Shara Crary, CA

Holly Fawcett, PA

Sierra Crites, NY

Alisha Beaver, TX

Rachel Menke, NM

Holly Kresge, TX

Andrew Muenzenberger, NJ

Sherry Yetter, MO

Joy Remson-Johnson, AL

Janis Gonzalez, TX

Jesse Bona, MA

Jenny Lages, FL

Jessica Pellerin, GA

Janice Menegay, OH

Jeni Menegay, OH

Linda Copeland MD, CA

Kevin Rauch, IL

Adrienne Guardiola, KS

Brian Nicols, KS

Kelsey Olson, KS

Angie Barnes, OR

Patricia Bugland, NY

Nancy Talley, KS

Quinn Ryan, NY

Organizational Sign-Ons

Combat Sexual Assault

Minority Veterans of America

Never Alone Advocacy

Not In My Marine Corps

Protect Our Defenders

Service: Women Who Serve

The Pink Berets

Veteran Legislative Voice

Veterans Cannabis Coalition

Vets for the People

Warrior Intimacy Institute

Women Veterans of NJ

Last updated July 18th, 2022