Sen. Shaheen Pledges To Fight for Abortion Coverage for Servicewomen
December 4, 2012 — Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) on Friday pledged to fight for abortion coverage for women in the military during House and Senate negotiations on a Department of Defense authorization bill, The Hill's "Floor Action Blog" reports (Cox, "Floor Action Blog," The Hill, 11/30).
The military covers abortion care for servicewomen only if their lives are in danger from the pregnancy. The Senate's version of the National Defense Authorization Act (S 3254) includes an amendment sponsored by Shaheen that would require the federal government to cover abortion care for servicewomen in cases of rape and incest (Women's Health Policy Report, 5/30).
The Senate continues to work on the bill this week (WAMU, 12/3). If passed, it likely will be sent to a conference committee with the House version.
Shaheen said the amendment would bring health care for women in the military "in line with the rest of the federal government." She added, "Access to care should no longer be one of the sacrifices women in the military are forced to make" ("Floor Action Blog," The Hill, 11/30).
The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
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The Editors
Debra Ness, publisher & president, National Partnership
Andrea Friedman, associate editor & director of reproductive health programs, National Partnership
Marya Torrez, associate editor & senior reproductive health policy counsel, National Partnership
Melissa Safford, associate editor & policy advocate for reproductive health, National Partnership
Perry Sacks, assistant editor & health program associate, National Partnership
Cindy Romero, assistant editor & communications assistant, National Partnership
Justyn Ware, editor
Amanda Wolfe, editor-in-chief
Heather Drost, Hanna Jaquith, Marcelle Maginnis, Ashley Marchand and Michelle Stuckey, staff writers
Tucker Ball, director of new media, National Partnership
