Dan Coats: “Mr. President, since 1979 the Department of Defense has prohibited the use of Federal funds to perform abortions except…”

“Mr. President, since 1979 the Department of Defense has prohibited the use of Federal funds to perform abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or to protect the life of the mother. The bill before us today, the Department of Defense bill, continues that prohibition. When we debated this issue last year, it was abundantly clear that the current restriction was not onerous. It did not put any women at risk. It is a policy which is fair. It was fair and sound last year and was supported by the Congress, and it remains fair and sound today. What we are trying to do is maintain a consistency in Federal policy relative to abortion. That policy, described as 'the Hyde amendment,' states that taxpayer money should not be used against the wishes of taxpayers for elective abortions except in some very limited circumstances--exceptions are allowed in the cases of rape, incest, and the life of the mother. But beyond that, the Congress has consistently supported prohibitions against the use of taxpayer dollars to perform abortions. That is something that has been upheld by the Court. It is constitutional. The case of Harris v. McRae upheld the Hyde amendment. It did not find a constitutional right to require the taxpayers to fund abortions. So I don't believe the Constitution is an issue here.”