Steve Buyer: “Mr. Chairman, over the past three decades, the availability of abortion services at military medical facilities has been…”

“Mr. Chairman, over the past three decades, the availability of abortion services at military medical facilities has been the subject of numerous changes and interpretations over the years. In January of 1993, President Clinton signed an executive order directing the Department of Defense to permit privately funded abortions be performed in military treatment facilities. The changes ordered by the President, however, did not have the effect of greatly increasing access to abortion services. Few abortions were performed at military treatment facilities overseas for two principle reasons: First, the United States military follows the prevailing laws and rules of foreign countries regarding abortions and, secondly, the military had a difficult time finding health care professionals in uniform willing to perform the abortions. The current law is consistent with the Hyde language. It allows military women and dependents to receive abortions in military treatment facilities in cases of rape, incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.”