Patty Murray: “we are about to vote on an amendment that will simply allow a woman who serves us overseas in the military to go to a…”

“we are about to vote on an amendment that will simply allow a woman who serves us overseas in the military to go to a military facility, if she so chooses, to have an abortion that is safe and legal. Current law requires that a woman who serves us overseas go to her commanding officer and ask for permission to fly home on a military transport, at taxpayer expense--as I say, at taxpayer expense--to fly home on a military jet to have access to what is legally given to every woman in this country today. I heard our opponents say that this is an issue of taxpayer-funded abortions. I disagree. The amendment disagrees. This will say that women will pay for their own abortions in the military facilities. We ask women to serve us, to fight for our rights, to go overseas in conditions that are often intolerable, to fight for this country. In return, we tell them that a decision that should be theirs, and their families, along with their physician and their own religion, is no longer a private issue for them. From women who serve us, we take away a right that has been established in this country for many years, and we tell them, if you serve in the military, that right is taken away from you. We are asking them to fight for our rights, but we are essentially taking away their rights. This restores that right to women who serve us overseas, to have an abortion, if they so choose. This applies to military families--to wives and daughters, as well.”