House Refuses To Vote On Abortion Coverage For Military Rape Victims

[Derechos]

The House Committee on Rules blocked an amendment from going to vote on Wednesday that would have allowed military rape victims to access abortion care through their government-provided health plans.

Earlier this week, Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.) and five other House Democrats submitted an amendment to the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act that would reverse the current policy of denying abortion coverage to military women who are raped and become pregnant during their service. As the bill currently stands, servicewomen have to pay out of pocket for an expensive abortion procedure unless they can prove that their lives are in danger.

By contrast, other federal bans on abortion coverage, including those for Medicaid recipients, federal employees, and women in federal prisons, all include exceptions for victims of rape and incest. The ban on abortion coverage for military rape victims is actually more extreme than the Hyde Amendment, which has prohibited federally-funded abortions for the past 30 years except in the cases of rape, incest and life endangerment.

"I think it's outrageous that we have young women who are serving our country and sacrificing their lives, and if they are raped and a pregnancy happens then they cannot utilize federal resources in order to have an abortion," Rep. Davis told HuffPost. "How can we tell a servicewoman that we would provide funding for her if she were sitting in a safe office in Washington, DC, but because she's fighting for our freedom in Afghanistan we tell her no? It's just not acceptable."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/25/military-rape-victims-abortion-coverage_n_867010.html

[gratuitous]

1. Note to women in the military

When you report for duty, leave your vagina at home.

Damn, if only there was some way to make a campaign issue out of this! But how? How many votes would the Republicans lose if women and men who care about women were fully informed about Republican disregard for women's health? But I suppose holding Republicans responsible for their policies would be unforgivably partisan, so it's better not to do that. The ghost of David Broder would cry, and nobody wants that. Better for all concerned if women in uniform just learn to suck it up, and quit being so touchy about rape.

[Angry Dragon]

2. Who is the Speaker of the House??

Isn't it his job to get bills to the floor??
It is the weeping boner's fault.
The repugs say they love the military, except they don't when it puts them on the spot

[dembotoz]

3. i wish i was surprised