Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions - S. 2166
STATEMENTS OF INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mrs. BOXER (for herself, Ms. SNOWE, Mrs. MURRAY, Ms. COLLINS, Mrs. CLINTON, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, and Ms. CANTWELL):
S. 2166. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to exempt abortions of pregnancies in cases of rape and incest from a limitation on use of Department of Defense funds; to the Committee on Armed Services.
Mrs. BOXER. Madam President, over the past several months, we have heard about tragic incidents in which female cadets at the Air Force Academy and military service women in Iraq have been the victims of rape and sexual assault. This is deplorable.
There are 200,000 women in uniform, yet while they are protecting our Nation, our Nation is failing to protect them from rape and sexual assault.
It is an even greater insult that we are telling our service women that the Department of Defense will not pay if they choose to terminate a pregnancy that is the result of rape.
Current law states that DoD funds may not be used to perform abortions except where the life of the mother would be endangered. It does not provide any exception for cases of rape and incest-such as is the case in the Medicaid program. The Boxer-Snowe bill would add rape and incest to the life exception that is now law.
While current law allows service members to use military treatment facilities for abortions resulting from rape and incest, the service woman must pay for the procedure out of her own pocket. This is an insult.
According to a study by the Iowa Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 30 percent of female U.S. military veterans report having been raped or having been the victim of an attempted rape during their military service. This legislation will provide help for our female troops in cases of such horrific crimes.
I ask unanimous consent that two letters of support for this bill be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
POPULATION CONNECTION,
Washington, DC, February 25, 2004.
Hon. Senator BARBARA BOXER,
U.S. Senate, Senate Hart Office Building, Washington, DC.
DEAR SENATOR BOXER: I am writing on behalf of 90,000 members and supporters of Population Connection to express our support for your bill providing that women who are victims of rape or incest and serving in the U.S. military-or are the dependents of members of the armed forces-have access to government funded abortions. The legislation is a critical first step in bringing to an end the appalling policy that denies military women the basic freedom of choice that all Americans are guaranteed.
Every individual has the fundamental right to freely decide the number and spacing of her children and reproductive choice is basic to the principle of individual liberty cherished by all Americans and most people worldwide. Far too many American women have been denied the full range of reproductive choices for too long. We strongly support efforts to expand choices for all those women denied them, and that includes the women serving in our armed forces. Your bill is an important first step in bringing constitutionally guaranteed health services to women making huge sacrifices on behalf of all of us.
We applaud your efforts to ensure reproductive freedom by ending irrational and harmful barriers to the health and well being of women. Please let us know what we can do to assist you in your efforts.
Sincerely,
BRIAN E. DIXON,
Director of Government Relations.
NARAL PRO-CHOICE AMERICA,
March 2, 2004.
Hon. BARBARA BOXER,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
DEAR SENATOR BOXER: I write to express NARAL Pro-Choice America's strong support for your legislation to allow federal funding for abortions in military facilities in cases of rape or incest. This legislation is needed to support our female troops and military dependents who have been the victims of such unspeakable crimes.
Current law only allows federal funding for abortions at military hospitals in cases of life endangerment. However, recent reports of sexual assault from female service members returning from duty in Iraq and other overseas stations demonstrate, sadly, that this policy fails to acknowledge the reality some servicewomen face. In addition, a 2003 study conducted by Dr. Anne Sadler with the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center found that 30 percent of female U.S. military veterans report having been
raped or suffered a rape attempt during their military service.
More than 100,000 women live on military bases overseas and rely on military hospitals for their health care-not to mention those posted stateside. The current-law ban on publicly funded abortions in cases of rape and incest may make some women reluctant to seek these medical services or force them to delay the procedure for several weeks. For each week an abortion is delayed, the risk to the woman's health increases. This ban further harms the women and families who have volunteered to serve their country, placing yet another obstacle in front of those who have already suffered an unspeakable assault and may wish to exercise their constitutionally protected right to choose.
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld recently directed the department's undersecretary for personnel and readiness to review the military's procedures for medical care for sexual-assault victims. A policy of allowing federal funding for abortion services in overseas military hospitals for victims of rape and incest is an important and common-sense first step.
We commend your courageous leadership on this important issue, and hope to work with you closely toward your legislation's enactment. It is vital that Congress pass critical measures such as this to support our troops and ensure that they are able to receive the health care the need.
Warm regards,
KATE MICHELMAN,
President