Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, today, I stand with my colleagues to oppose the motion to obstruct and to repeal facilitating abortions funded by the Department of Defense and, in effect, taxpayers.

Following the Supreme Court's landmark Dobbs decision, the Biden administration sought ways to bypass the ruling. They have encouraged Federal agencies to not only expand abortion access but also to burden American taxpayers with the cost.

Last October, the Secretary of Defense released a memo titled: ``Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care.'' Let's get something straight, Mr. Speaker. There is nothing reproductive about abortion. Abortion ends a life. It does not reproduce.

This memo paves the way for taxpayer money to facilitate abortion for servicemembers and their dependents. It even allows for the reimbursement of travel expenses for those seeking abortions in another State. Taxpayer funds for the DOD are meant for national defense, not to further a pro- abortion agenda.

Let me be clear, Mr. Speaker. We believe in life-affirming care for the mother and the baby that God is growing inside of her, but we also believe that the government in no way, no shape, and no form should be paying to facilitate ending that life.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to back this amendment and defeat the motion to obstruct. Let's save some lives.

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