Jim Ryun: “I rise in opposition, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Our military serves to protect the lives of the…”

“I rise in opposition, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Our military serves to protect the lives of the innocent. This is clear to us now more than ever. Military treatment centers are dedicated to healing and nurturing life. They should not be forced to facilitate the taking of the most innocent of human life, the child in the womb. Supporters of abortion in military hospitals argue that women in countries where abortion is not permitted will have nowhere else to turn. However, the U.S. military follows the prevailing laws and rules of the host country regarding abortions. Military doctors must obey the laws of the country where they are providing services, so abortions still could not be performed in these locations even if we passed this amendment that we are considering today. This is also the wrong time for Congress to allow overseas military treatment facilities to become abortion clinics. Our administration is working hard to recruit Muslim countries to be a part of our coalition against terrorism. They are working to build a partnership to allow our military to operate in these countries. It would be counterproductive to risk eroding relationships with these countries that oppose abortion. For the past 5 years, since 1996, the House has rejected attempts to overturn the ban on overseas abortions. The Sanchez amendment is simply one more attempt to reopen a contentious issue that this House has rejected from time to time.”