"Austin vows to maintain military's access to abortion despite end of Roe"

[Me.]

“Austin vows to maintain military’s access to abortion despite end of Roe”

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2022-06-24/lloyd-austin-abortion-roe-military-6450038.html

Defense Department to keep access to "reproductive health care" after Roe v. Wade's end

“Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday that the Pentagon is working to ensure that members of the military, their families and its civilian employees will still have access to "reproductive health care" after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Why it matters: The Defense Department currently does not have a policy to accommodate service members or employees who are seeking an abortion but are stationed in a state that has outlawed abortion, Politico reports.

• Federal law currently allows military medical facilities to provide abortions only in cases of rape, incest or if a woman’s life is in danger, while the military's health program is allowed to cover abortions at private facilities for those same reasons only.

What they're saying: "Nothing is more important to me or to this Department than the health and well-being of our Service members, the civilian workforce and DOD families," Austin said in a statement on Friday”

https://www.axios.com/2022/06/25/defense-department-abortion-access-roe-v-wade
.

[Phoenix61]

1. When BRAC takes a look at some of those states with

their abortion restrictions and trans care restrictions and abysmal education rankings… things may not go the way they hoped. Next round should happen in 2023.

[Me.]

2. Not Sure I Understand What You're Saying

What do the Cons care about poverty?

[Phoenix61]

3. BRAC is Base Realignment and Closure.

Losing a base is a huge deal.

[Me.]

5. But How Do The 2 Relate

[SeattleVet]

11. The military takes into account quality of life as a part of the overall decision-making process.

For servicemembers as well as contractors, and their dependents.

If they determine that, for example, a state like Texas is an inhospitable environment they may decide that they *really* don't need all of the bases in that particular area when it comes time to realign force deployment.

If it becomes a burden on the military to work around these states they can make the decision to close a base and reassign the personnel to a location that is more amenable to the well-being of the troops, civilian employees, and their families. This can result in overall cost-savings as well as keeping up the morale of those assigned there.

If a few bases are relocated from, for example, Texas with it's draconian laws to a place like Washington or Oregon it's hitting those states right where it hurts. Military bases provide a HUGE financial benefit to local businesses the areas where they are located. When local businesses suddenly lose all of their military customers due to relocation these businesses tend to put pressure on the powers-that-be in the state to get back onto the gravy train.

[Me.]

12. Thank You

[paleotn]

14. Yep. Could get nasty....

Lots of screaming from TX and SC more than likely. Might not have to change the name of Ft. Hood. Very big place, but.....probably not, but then again I never imagined SCOTUS would actually go there on Roe.

[Cha]

4. Mahalo, Me & D SOD Lloyd Austin!💙

Last edited Mon Jun 27, 2022, 10:14 PM - Edit history (1)

💙💛



Edit for big mistake!

[Me.]

6. WooHoo

[Cha]

9. Aloha!

💙💛

[Cha]

17. Mahalo, Me.. you really

helped me a lot by pointing that out.



💙💛

[Me.]

18. ...

[Cha]

19. 💛💜💚💙💖

💙💛

[rainin]

7. I'm nervous that so many have embraced the narrow list of women who should

still have access to abortion: victims of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. Aren't we conceding choice by this language? I worry we won't hold firm on the right to abortion for ANY reason, like financial concerns, or career aspirations, or bad timing, or just because it's not the right time. I believe in taking every precaution to prevent a pregnancy, but nothing is 100% and if someone is one of the unlucky 1% and chooses not to continue the pregnancy, this must be her right.

[Shipwack]

8. +1000!

We can not cede one inch to these anti-choicers. I find the fact that the military does not facilitate members who don’t fit one of those categories horrendous.

[70sEraVet]

10. Some states do not even concern themselves with all of the items on your list -

Tennessee’s law has limited exceptions. It allows abortions to preserve the life and health of the mother, but it specifically excludes any burden on mental health. There is no exception for rape or incest, which were often included in previous attempts to ban abortions. Tennessee’s ban also makes no allowance for abortions in the very first few weeks of pregnancy, including those induced through medication.

https://www.wkyufm.org/news/2022-06-24/with-federal-protection-gone-abortions-in-tennessee-may-cease-in-30-days

[Skittles]

13. that is part of the"no tax dollars for abortion" thing

you know, the "pro-life" crowd who is happy to pay for senseless wars but OMG, abortion......

[paleotn]

15. Problem is the Hyde Amendment....

https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/142

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Amendment#:~:text=In%20U.S.%20politics%2C%20the%20Hyde,arises%20from%20incest%20or%20rape.

Here's hoping Henry Hyde is in a very hot place if one does exist.

[rainin]

16. I appreciate this detail. I've heard of the Hyde Amendment, but hadn't looked it up

until now. Thank for linking to it.

[llmart]

20. Henry Hyde

Wasn't Hyde one of those hypocrites who went after President Clinton for his affair and then we found out Hyde had one also?

Don't know why I remember that or if it's even correct.