Planned Parenthood Applauds Senate Vote for Abortions at US Military Hospitals

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jun 1, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Planned Parenthood Applauds Senate Vote for Abortions at US Military Hospitals

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
June 1
, 2010

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — The nation’s largest abortion business is applauding the vote last week in a Senate committee to turn U.S. military base hospitals into abortion centers. The amendment, sponsored by pro-abortion Sen. Rolland Burris of Illinois, would have the military break with current longstanding policy.

Planned Parenthood has been working for years to force military bases hospitals to do abortions on female service members.

In the Senate Armed Services Committee, Burris won approval to attach an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to allow abortions on both domestic and overseas military bases.

"Every woman honorably serving our country in the U.S. military and the spouses of military personnel stationed around the world deserve access to the full range of reproductive health care available to women in the United States," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

"The vote repealing this discriminatory and dangerous ban is the first step to ensuring that servicewomen can use their own private money for abortion care when they are serving overseas," she said.

Though Richards frames the debate as one of women using their money for abortions, taxpayers foot the bill for the operation of the medical base, equipment, supplies, and other items used in the abortion.

Richards also complains that servicewomen who are currently unable to obtain abortions at American military base hospitals must seek abortions at medical centers off base. She never suggests that women in the military avoid sexual relations or consider keeping the baby — making it appear abortion is the only option for women.

The Senate Armed Services Committee voted 15-12 for the amendment with all Republicans and Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson voting against it and all other Democrats voting for it.

Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi led the fight in the committee against the amendment and spoke out about it today on the Senate floor.

"The committee yesterday decided to reverse this long-standing policy and to say that indeed abortions, for whatever reason, will be performed in these facilities that are paid for by taxpayer expense," he said.

While military base hospitals should be "there for the care of our service members to keep them healthy and to repair their injuries," Wicker said "we’re going to use those facilities for elective abortions."

Current law prohibits the performance of abortion by Department of Defense medical personnel or in Department of Defense medical facilities except when the life of the mother is at risk or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. There is no distinction in this policy between military facilities within the United States and those overseas.

A separate provision prohibits the use of Department of Defense taxpayer 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.

ACTION: Go to https://armed-services.senate.gov/members.htm to see the members of the committee and express your opinion about their vote.

 

Sign Up for Free Pro-Life News From LifeNews.com

Daily Pro-Life News Report Twice-Weekly Pro-Life
News Report
Receive a free daily email report from LifeNews.com with the latest pro-life news stories on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here. Receive a free twice-weekly email report with the latest pro-life news headlines on abortion, euthanasia and stem cell research. Sign up here.