Female veterans in Congress share their thoughts on the Pentagon abortion policy dispute.

Congress ⁢Debates​ Department of Defense’s Abortion Policies

Congress is currently engaged in𝅺 a heated debate ‌over ⁢the Department of ​Defense’s policies ‍on ‍abortion. ‍What⁣ makes ​this discussion particularly𝅺 interesting𝅺 is the ⁤involvement⁣ of seven women​ lawmakers who have⁤ served in the military.

Representatives⁣ Anna ⁤Paulina Luna ​(R-FL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks⁣ (R-IA), and ⁤Jen Kiggans (R-VA) ‍have all 𝅺shown their support for𝅺 the National Defense Authorization ‌Act. They have ‍also voted⁣ in‌ favor of an amendment that, if‍ passed ‍into law, ⁢would require ‍the department to ⁣end​ its current policy ⁢of reimbursing⁢ travel expenses ⁢for ​service members or⁤ their dependents who⁢ need to⁢ travel out of state due to ⁤restrictive ⁤local⁤ abortion ​laws.

Debates Reach New Heights

While the⁤ department’s policy has‌ been⁢ in⁢ effect⁢ for several months,⁣ the discussions surrounding it𝅺 have ⁢reached ​new ‌heights ⁤this week.​ House𝅺 Republicans ⁤ultimately voted to include the repeal of this policy ⁢in the must-pass ‌defense authorization bill.

On‍ Thursday, 𝅺Luna took the opportunity ⁣to speak on the House floor,⁤ emphasizing that the‌ current policy would harm military​ readiness if ​allowed​ to continue. However, Democratic ‌women ‍veterans ​in​ the House, such as 𝅺Representatives⁤ Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)​ and​ Chrissy Houlahan𝅺 (D-PA), who voted against the NDAA ⁣with‍ objections to𝅺 the abortion amendment, hold 𝅺a​ different perspective.

Sherrill ‌expressed her ⁤surprise at‍ the⁣ overwhelming GOP ​support for ​the 𝅺amendment,​ stating,​ “It ‍was shocking 𝅺to me… especially given what I was⁣ hearing 𝅺from members across the aisle who ⁤I thought⁣ would⁣ vote against the ​amendment,” ⁢according to Talking Points Memo.

Concerns for Women ⁤in Uniform

Representative⁤ Houlahan, through her spokesperson 𝅺Aubrey Stuber, voiced her concerns ‌about the ⁣potential ‍impact ⁢of this​ policy on women in uniform⁤ and military 𝅺families. Stuber‍ stated, “If𝅺 Republicans pass 𝅺this policy,⁢ women⁤ in uniform ‍and military families will have less access 𝅺to𝅺 reproductive care ⁣than​ when⁢ she‍ wore the uniform ⁣decades ‍ago.”

Stuber​ further emphasized ⁣the national security⁢ implications, stating​ that it raises ‍questions ‍about whether ⁤women ⁢would want⁤ to 𝅺join an institution⁢ that ‍does not respect their 𝅺right⁢ to reproductive care.⁢ This, in turn, could ​degrade military readiness during‌ a time of historic recruitment‍ challenges.

The Battle ​Ahead

While the ⁤Senate still ‌needs ⁣to pass its own version of‌ the NDAA, it is⁤ highly ⁤unlikely 𝅺that‌ the Democratic majority will include𝅺 this provision.𝅺 This​ sets ‍the ‍stage for ‌a⁣ tough battle​ when both ⁤chambers ⁤come together to merge their versions of the bill.

Notably, there are ⁣two women⁢ veterans in ​the⁢ Senate who𝅺 hold ⁢opposing views ‍on 𝅺the⁣ matter. Senators⁢ Joni‍ Ernst (R-IA) ‍and𝅺 Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) are on ‍opposite⁣ sides of the debate. Ernst 𝅺has already made ‌efforts 𝅺to add this amendment to the Senate’s version‌ of⁢ the bill.

Ernst firmly‍ believes that the Pentagon should ‍not be‍ mobilized against the​ unborn.​ She argues ⁣that the Department‌ of ⁢Defense exists to defend​ innocent life, not ‌destroy​ it. In‌ her statement​ to the ‍Washington Examiner, she ‌expressed her⁣ commitment to​ protecting ‍the unborn and taxpayers from funding⁢ abortions.

As the debate continues, it remains‌ to be‌ seen how⁣ this ‌issue will ultimately be resolved.

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