A group of Democrats are charging that the “war on women” includes the ban on abortions in military medical facilities.
The Dems today introduced the Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health (MARCH) Act of 2013, which would allow women in the military to use their own money to pay for abortions in military medical facilities.
The last defense budget chipped away at the military’s abortion ban on base, which since 1988 had been allowed only if the woman’s life was in danger but now extends to cases of rape or incest.
“This legislation would help to respect our servicewomen’s right to privacy while ensuring that they receive the best medical care possible in a timely manner,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), chairwoman of the Senate Armed Service Subcommittee on Personnel.
Proponents claim women would risk shoddy care if they went off-base for abortions.
“Women serving in foreign countries deserve access to safe and legal health care, which in many cases is not available off the military base,” said Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.). “Women in the U.S. military shouldn’t have to forfeit their rights when they serve abroad, and this legislation would bring unjust treatment to an end.”
“Our women in uniform continue to play increasingly critical roles in our military and there is no reason for them to be excluded from the same types of health care services available to those in the private sector,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.).
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