Patty Murray: “Mr. President, no woman should be forced to surrender her constitutional rights when she puts on a military uniform and…”

“Mr. President, no woman should be forced to surrender her constitutional rights when she puts on a military uniform and volunteers to serve our country overseas. But that is exactly what happens today, and it must stop. The women of our military risk their lives to protect our rights, but if they serve abroad they are being denied access to safe, legal, constitutionally protected health care. Today I am on the floor of the Senate to offer an amendment to ensure that our military women when they serve overseas have access to the same health care as they get here at home. My amendment simply requires these women to pay for any costs associated with an abortion in a military facility. So no direct Federal funding is involved. Second, my amendment does not compel a medical provider to perform abortions. All branches of the military allow medical personnel who have moral or religious or ethical objections to abortion not to participate.”