Pete Stark: “I rise today to support Representative Susan Davis' amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to repeal the complete…”

“I rise today to support Representative Susan Davis' amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to repeal the complete abortion ban for women in the military. This amendment is a reasonable compromise. It would not require the U.S. Government to fund abortions at military facilities around the world. It would simply allow U.S. servicewomen, or military dependents, to use their own funds for abortion care at overseas military hospitals. Our brave servicewomen enroll in the military to protect the civil liberties of American citizens. Unfortunately, under existing law the very liberties they are trying to protect are being taken away from them through this draconian policy. As a result, our servicewomen must sometimes resort to illegal, unsafe procedures to get an abortion. In the military, pregnancy is often cited as an attribute that makes women less desirable as soldiers, but at the same time the military institution denies women safe and reasonable access to terminate a pregnancy if she chooses. Servicewomen should have comprehensive reproductive healthcare regardless of where they reside. I urge my colleagues to show support for our servicewomen, and vote yes to repeal this overreaching abortion ban for women in the military.”