119-HJRES-144 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary of H.J. Res. 144 (119th Congress)

Headline Summary: Congress is considering a resolution to cancel a new Department of Veterans Affairs rule that brings back a near-total ban on abortion services and counseling in the VA system. (govinfo.gov)

What It Does: H.J. Res. 144 uses the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to disapprove the VA’s Dec. 31, 2025 final rule titled “Reproductive Health Services,” which reinstates the pre‑2022 exclusions on abortions and abortion counseling in both VA care and CHAMPVA. In plain terms, the resolution would wipe out that VA rule and stop it from taking effect. The VA rule’s stated effective date is January 30, 2026, and the CRA provides the mechanism for Congress to nullify such rules. (govinfo.gov)

• Supporters: Sponsored by Rep. Julia Brownley (D‑CA) with Democratic colleagues on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee; they argue the VA’s rule is “dangerous,” strips veterans of needed care, and reverses limited access previously allowed in cases of rape, incest, or threats to life or health. (congress.gov)
• Opponents: The VA under the current administration and many Republicans/conservative groups favor the rule the resolution targets, saying the 2022 policy was legally questionable and that abortion is not an authorized or “needed” VA medical service. Coverage noted that conservative groups praised the restriction when it was proposed. (govinfo.gov)
• Context: In 2022, VA temporarily allowed abortion counseling and, in limited cases, abortions; the 2025–26 VA rule returns to prior exclusions. The resolution seeks to restore the 2022 status quo. (govinfo.gov)

Who’s For It: • House VA Committee Democrats (lead: Brownley; co-lead: Takano) and allied reproductive‑rights groups say the VA ban endangers veterans, especially survivors of rape or incest and those with serious health risks. (democrats-veterans.house.gov)

Who’s Against It: • Backers of the VA rule—including VA leadership appointed by the current administration and many Republican lawmakers—argue the 2022 access policy exceeded VA’s legal authority and that the new rule aligns care with law and longstanding practice. (govinfo.gov)

What’s Next: As of January 27, 2026, the resolution has been introduced and referred to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. To take effect, a CRA resolution must pass both chambers and be signed by the President (or enacted over a veto). Historically, presidents rarely sign CRA disapprovals of their own agencies’ rules, so any enactment typically requires veto‑proof majorities. (congress.gov)