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Abortions At Military Hospitals

Senate Should Defeat Defense Bill Over Abortions at Military Hospitals, Groups Say

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- A collection of pro-life organizations representing 30 million Americans sent a joint letter to members of the Senate today asking lawmakers to oppose the bill funding the Defense Department. They say the measure should be rejected and rewritten because it contains an amendment promoting abortions.

Months ago, Sen. Roland Burris attached an amendment to allow abortions at taxpayer-funded military base hospitals to a bill in the Senate Armed Services Committee that received a 15-12 vote.

All Democrats supported it except for Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who joined all of the committee's Republicans in opposition.

The Senate is expected to vote on an amendment from pro-life Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi that would remove the Burris language and retain the current ban on abortions at the public military base hospitals, but the amendment will not likely be approved.

Therefore, the letter, organized under the umbrella of the Freedom Federation, urges lawmakers to defeat the bill entirely.

"Though we appreciate the importance of maintaining a strong national defense and of funding the military, members of the Freedom Federation also understand the negative impact the National Defense Authorization Act will have on the members and culture of the military, if it is passed as written," the letter, provided to LifeNews.com, says. Ref. Source 3

Hospitals Military Abortions

Democrats to Push Bill After Elections Allowing Abortions at Military Base Hospitals

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Democrats are expected to push a bill in the Senate after the elections that would authorize abortions at taxpayer-funded military base hospitals. The bill is one of a couple dozen measures they plan to seek votes on during the lame-duck session after an election that is expected to result in gains for pro-life advocates.

The aggressive lame duck session is expected because Democrats will likely lose a large number of votes in both the House and Senate -- or potentially control of one chamber or both -- on Election Day to pro-life Republican candidates.

Sensing that potential result, Democrats are ramping up efforts to hold votes on a slew of bills before the start of the next Congressional session.

Democratic leaders have prioritized the defense authorization bill as one of the top pieces of legislation for the lame duck session.

Senate Democrats will not be able to push for the Defense funding bill and its authorization for military base abortions without opposition.

Sen. Jim DeMint, a pro-life South Carolina Republican, warned on Monday that he would block all legislation that has not been agreed to by both parties by the end of the day today.

"The Executive Committee of the Senate Steering Committee has asked the Steering Committee staff to hold all bills that have not been hotlined by close of business Tuesday," Bret Bernhardt, DeMint's chief of staff, said in an email according to Politico.

The block essentially means that DeMint will filibuster any legislation he doesn't support -- requiring Democrats to obtain 60 votes to clear the bill and its pro-abortion provision. Ref. Source 5

Abortions At Military Hospitals History & Civil Business Politics

Senate Opposes Bill Making Military Hospitals Abortion Centers

The Senate turned back a second attempt by pro-abortion Democrats to stop a Republican filibuster against a Defense Department funding measure that would also allow abortions at military base hospitals.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid couldn't find enough votes for cloture to stop debate and cast a vote on the legislation, but brought the measure up for a vote anyway.

His first attempt in September to get 60 votes for cloture failed as Republicans filibustered the measure in part because of the Burris amendment that would overturn a longstanding ban on abortions at taxpayer-funded military hospitals both domestically and abroad.

Today's second effort failed on a 57-40 vote with all Democrats voting for cloture to move ahead with the bill and the abortions, except for Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who compiled a pro-life voting record as the state's governor. Republicans again voted no, with pro-abortion Republicans staying with the remainder of their party except Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Ref. Source 5

Hospitals Military Abortions

Pro-Abortion Groups Push Abortions at Military Base Hospitals
Leading pro-abortion groups are pushing members of the Senate to support an amendment to legislation that would overturn the ban on abortions at taxpayer-funded U.S. Military base hospitals.

Instead of focusing on care for military personnel and their families, abortion activists want to ensure the taxpayer-funded hospitals and staff are required to do abortions. As is frequently the case, pro-abortion groups like NARAL and Planned Parenthood are focusing on hard cases in order to push through their abortion agenda.

Titled "End Abortion Ban for Military r-pe Survivors," an email NARAL sent to its supporters yesterday presented the longstanding policy in a different light.

"It's outrageous. Women in the military who become pregnant from r-pe cannot use their health insurance to cover abortion care. Servicewomen's health insurance doesn't cover abortion in these tragic circumstances simply because of anti-choice politics," NARAL claimed.

Current law in effect since 1996 prohibits the performance of abortion by Department of Defense medical personnel or at DOD medical facilities. A separate provision prohibits the use of DOD funds for abortion except to save the life of the mother.

The issue of abortions done at military base medical centers has been around for two decades. When ex-President Clinton allowed abortions in military facilities from 1993 to 1996, all military physicians (as well as many nurses and supporting personnel) refused to perform or assist in elective abortions. In response, the Clinton administration attempted to hire civilians to do abortions. Ref. Source 7