Jackie Speier: “We withdrew this particular amendment during the committee's disposition on the NDAA at the request of Mr. Kelly because…”

“We withdrew this particular amendment during the committee's disposition on the NDAA at the request of Mr. Kelly because I recognized that he had some important points to make. I think this addresses his concern. This particular amendment ensures access to high-quality education on family planning across military branches to give our servicemembers the tools they need to make the best healthcare decisions for themselves and their families. According to DOD estimates, the vast majority--some 95 percent--of all women serving in our military are of reproductive age, yet data from the Department of Defense survey shows insufficient access to comprehensive family planning education among our servicemembers. Inadequate family planning education puts servicemembers at high risk of unplanned pregnancies and creates uncertainty in the retention of critical personnel. Not surprisingly, research shows that Active-Duty servicemembers of reproductive age have a rate of unplanned pregnancies that is 60 percent--I repeat, 60 percent--higher than that of comparable women in the general population. Education on family planning is not just about contraception or pregnancy; it is also about preventing sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and staying healthy and informed. This amendment would create a uniform education program across all branches of the military so that servicemembers receive current and medically accurate information.…”