These regulations are less concerned with the safety of those who seek abortions and serve only to decrease access to clinics and their services. It is a cowardly way of limiting the number of clinics providing well woman care to VA residents and visitors.

In so doing, the stigma of abortion is perpetuated, clinic resources are redirected and wasted, and meaningful choices can no longer be made by patients in consultation with their healthcare providers. At a critical time in the economy, where many families are doing without necessities and care, we should be working toward making healthcare safe and accessible for all.

I trust women and wish to increase their safety by trusting them to make reproductive health and healthcare decisions for themselves and their families. I hope you will, too.