Planned Parenthood Criticizes Rules Committee for Rejecting Common Sense Women’s Health Amendment for Military Women
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
Planned Parenthood sharply criticized the House Rules Committee for rejecting an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2012 that would allow military women to access insurance coverage that includes abortion coverage in the cases of rape or incest.
Source
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Contact
“Every woman honorably serving our country in the U.S. military and the spouses of military personnel stationed around the world deserve comprehensive insurance coverage,” said Dawn Laguens, Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s executive vice president of public policy and communications. “It is shameful that the House Rules Committee would not even allow this amendment a vote in the House.”
The amendment, sponsored by Representative Susan Davis and co-sponsored by Representatives Rob Andrews, Diana DeGette, Carolyn Maloney, Loretta Sanchez, and Louise Slaughter would repeal the current ban on the military’s insurance coverage for abortion care for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest.
It is unacceptable that abortion care, especially in the case of rape or incest, is not part of the health insurance provided to military families. Studies indicate that as many as one-third of women serving in the military will experience a rape or attempted rape during their time of service. This policy is far out of the mainstream and needs to be repealed.
The amendment simply matches the military’s health insurance with that of other federal health policies, most of which allow for abortions in the case of life endangerment or pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest.
Additionally, this current ban discriminates against servicewomen who are courageously serving our country and unfairly restricts their ability to purchase comprehensive health insurance.
“It is unacceptable that the House Republican leadership is again putting politics ahead of women’s health,” said Laguens.
Published
May 24, 2011
Source
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Contact
Planned Parenthood Federation of America media office: 212-261-4433
Published
May 24, 2011