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Madam Chairman, I thank my colleague for yielding me this time, and I commend her for her leadership on this very important issue. Madam Chairman, as communities across the Nation begin to welcome home members of our Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and to honor those who continue to serve in our ongoing war on terrorism, we are, at the same time, turning America's brave servicewomen into second-class citizens. So long as this Congress continues a policy that fails to afford servicewomen their constitutional right to comprehensive health care, regardless of where they serve, we continue to do them serious harm. Since 1989, and except for 2 years early in the Clinton administration, Congress has barred a woman's access to necessary health care services at overseas bases, even when paid for by their own funds. When I served on the Committee on Armed Services, way back when, I sponsored this same amendment to restore the rights of servicewomen serving overseas. And before me, our colleague, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), courageously fought this battle. I have long believed that the current policy is unconstitutional and, if challenged, would be overturned as a violation of Roe v. Wade. In practical terms, the policy exposes our servicewomen serving in austere locations overseas to unsanitary and unsafe medical facilities, and it requires that a woman violate her right to privacy by requiring that she secure permission from a superior officer to travel back to the United States to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, a requirement that violates her rights under Roe v. Wade. Today, this body has another opportunity to right this obvious wrong. As the sponsor pointed out, we do not ask that the Federal Government pay for abortions overseas. Women who want this procedure will have to pay for it. Nor do we compel medical professionals to provide the procedure. There is a conscience clause. As servicewomen and female dependents deploy abroad, it is time to send the right message. As they protect our constitutional rights to life and liberty, we need to protect theirs. Vote for the Sanchez-Harman-DeLauro amendment. Home | Lobby | Congresswoman Harman's Office | Press | Issues | Casework | District Office | Library | Webmaster | Privacy Policy | Contact
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