The Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel has amended the Defense Department Reauthorization Act to improve the reproductive health services available to military personnel and spouses stationed overseas.
The first amendment, introduced to the Subcommittee by Steven Kuykendall (R-CA), would grant federally-funded abortions to women whose pregnancies are the result or incest or rape, or are life-threatening. Currently, the military’s overseas medical facilities only performs abortions when necessary to save a woman’s life.
The second amendment, offered by Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), would allow military medical facilities to provide privately-funded abortion services. This amendment would repeal a 1996 measure that banned military hospitals from providing abortion services for a fee.
The amended Defense Department Reauthorization Act will next be considered by the full Armed Services Committee
