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

Floor Speech

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Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her leadership on this issue.

I commend the chair and ranking member of the Armed Services Committee for the legislation that came out of their committee 58-1, the bipartisanship to protect and defend, which is the oath of office that all of us take to serve in government; and also, though, to acknowledge that, on the floor of the House, these poisonous resolutions came forward and were added to the bill. I rise to move to instruct House conferees to honor our men and women in uniform by protecting their fundamental health freedom.

I was listening with interest and prayerfully, frankly, to the previous speaker, who just said that terminating a pregnancy is not a health issue. Well, for some people, it might be.

Do you believe in the Hyde amendment? I am not a fan of the Hyde amendment, but that is the law of the land. Under the Hyde amendment, if there is rape, incest, or the life of the mother is at risk, then that changes the dynamic in terms of public policy.

Now, suppose a family member has a situation where the life of the mother is at risk or a child of a servicemember is the victim of violence and rape in the community. Would you want that person to have their health needs met? If they are in a State that says absolutely not, then they would have to travel elsewhere to have their health needs met, in keeping with the Hyde amendment.

If you believe in the Hyde amendment, which I don't subscribe to, but many of you do, how can you deprive the life of a mother--whether it is a servicewoman herself or the spouse of a serviceperson, or child of a servicemember--the ability to seek the healthcare that they need?

The NDAA has long been bipartisan. This year, House Republicans are now engaging in a version that would restrict servicemembers from receiving full reproductive rights.

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Ms. PELOSI. This is disrespectful. Shame on those who play political games with the courageous people who would give their lives to save ours.

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