Political Quotes

“So, Mr. President, I have great respect for the Senator from Utah. I appreciate that he is very careful about citing law and often comes to this body to talk about reading the actual words of a statute. And so he read to us 10 U.S.C. 1093(a), which prohibits Federal funds--and he should look back at the verb--``to perform'' abortion. It also, in section (b), prohibits using military facilities--bases, hospital rooms, clinics--to perform abortions. Now, I appreciate that the Senator from Utah read those words because it is pretty clear from those words that DOD policy here does not violate congressional prohibitions on the Federal Government paying for abortions or permitting them to happen in Federal facilities other than the exceptions noted in the statute. All that is happening in this particular bill is clarifying that servicemembers who need to travel out of State to access any kind--and I want to underline ``any kind''-- of reproductive healthcare that is not available where they are stationed, can request time off and go get that care for themselves or a family member. Servicemembers remain personally responsible for bearing the full medical cost for abortions that fall outside the narrow exceptions provided by law. Now, I will say it again as clearly as I can: I oppose congressional restrictions on funding for basic medical care.…”