Rep. Sherrill Introduces Bill to Guarantee Leave and Travel Costs for Military Abortion Access
This bill is currently in the House Committee on Armed Services. It has not seen any action since February 2026, which is a period of four months. The bill is stalled because it needs a committee vote to move forward.
This bill faces strong opposition in a Republican-controlled House, as reproductive rights in the military are a major point of political conflict.
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 6357 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 6357 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
The bill focuses on active duty service members and their dependents, not veterans. However, the findings note that service-related injuries, toxic exposures, and sexual assault increase infertility risk, which could build support for similar benefits for veterans in the future.
“Members of the Armed Forces are exposed to job-related risk factors that increase the likelihood they will experience infertility.”
ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Ms. Houlahan asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 1742, a bill originally introduced by Representative Sherrill, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
The Defense Department will no longer reimburse service members for travel out of state to get reproductive health care, including abortions and fertility treatments, according to a new memo signed by Secretary Pete Hegseth, eliminating a Biden-era policy enacted in 2022.
Soon after Pete Hegseth was confirmed, the DoD struck down a policy allowing active service members to take paid leave and get reimbursed for out-of-state travel for reproductive care. In response, Democrats have pushed the Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act to codify protections.
Sixteen Democrats are co-sponsoring the Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act, introduced to ensure troops can access abortion and IVF treatments regardless of where they are stationed, following the Pentagon's decision to rescind travel allowances.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Access to Reproductive Care for Servicemembers Act
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