Washington, DC -- The House Armed Services Committee last week defeated an amendment by pro-abortion Rep. Loretta Sanchez that would have allowed abortion at overseas military hospitals. The Sanchez amendment to H.R. 4546 lost by a vote of 24-34.
Last year the same pro-abortion amendment failed by a vote of 23-35, but Nevada Rep. Gibbons, who has a mixed record on abortion votes, changed his vote to support the Sanchez amendment this year. The House rejected this same amendment each year from 1996 to 2001.
Current pro-life law prohibits the use of military facilities for abortions. The policy began as an executive order from the Bush administration in the early 1990s and eventually became law in 1996.
President Clinton signed the current provision into law because it was attached to a larger bill providing for military funding.
On February 10, 1996, the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into law by President Clinton with a provision to prevent DOD medical treatment facilities from being used to perform abortions, except where the life of the mother is endangered or in cases of rape or incest.
President Clinton allowed abortions in military facilities from 1993 to 1996 prior to Congress adopted the pro-life law. During that time, all military physicians -- as well as many nurses and supporting personnel -- refused to perform or assist in elective abortions. In response, the administration sought to hire a civilian to perform abortions.
"If the Sanchez amendment were adopted, not only would taxpayer funded facilities be used to support abortion on demand, but resources could be used to search for, hire, and transport new personnel simply so that abortions could be performed," explained John Cusey of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus.
"Military treatment centers -- which are dedicated to healing and nurturing life -- should not be forced to facilitate the taking of the most innocent human life: the child in the womb," Cusey said.
Had the committee adopted the amendment, military doctors still could not perform abortions in those locations where abortion is restricted or not permitted. Department of Defense policy requires military doctors to obey the abortion laws of the countries where they are providing medical services.
Pregnant women are currently able to travel to another location for an abortion on a military flight on a space available basis.
From: The Pro-Life Infonet <infonet@prolifeinfo.org>
Reply-To: Steven Ertelt <infonet@prolifeinfo.org>
Subject: Congressional Committee Votes Against Military Abortions
Source: Pro-Life Infonet; May 5, 2002
click here to return to Articles Page.
|
