Washington, DC (LifeSiteNews.com) – The latest attempt by three Californian Congresswomen to overturn a restriction on abortions at military bases has ended the same way it has every year since 1996 – failure. The motion, brought forward by Susan Davis of San Diego, Jane Harman of Venice, and Loretta Sanchez of Santa Ana, was defeated yet again in the House on Wednesday by a 233-194 vote.
Currently, physicians at military hospitals are not permitted to perform abortions, even if the mother of the child pays for the abortion herself. Exceptions are made in cases where the abortion will save the life of the mother, or instances of rape or incest.
However, even in these cases the military doesn’t fund the procedure. Representative Davis argued against the restriction saying “We ask women to put their lives at risk for our freedom, so why is it we do not support them when they require safe and legal medical services?”
Representative Jim Ryun of Kansas responded, saying “Allowing self-funded abortions will simply turn our military hospitals overseas into abortion clinics.”
Retired Army Sgt. Pauline Keehn, who is otherwise in favour of what she calls ‘abortion rights’, has sounded off on previous debates about the issue, explaining “There are enough problems already surrounding the issue of pregnancy and its effect on deployment. Add the equation of those who choose abortion, and you have a logistical nightmare waiting to happen.”
Two other amendments were brought to the House floor on Wednesday. The first, the Shays Amendment, called for military funding for abortions in the case of rape or incest. The second, the Michaud Amendment, called for the abortifacient ‘morning-after’ pill to be made available on military bases and to be funded by the military benefits plan.
Both amendments were stopped before going to a vote.
Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
US Conference of Bishops Spokesperson Slams US Senate Vote for Military Abortions
Senate Votes to Fund Military Abortions
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