House, Senate Defeat Military Abortion Amendments

May 25, 2003—Washington, DC: On Thursday, May 22, both the House and Senate defeated a pair of pro-abortion amendments that would have mandated performing abortions at taxpayer-funded military bases.

In the Senate, pro-abortion Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) offered the amendment and the Senate defeated it by a close 51-48 vote. To see how your Senators voted, go to:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=108&session=1&vote=00192

After the Senate last year approved a similar amendment, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld warned that President Bush would veto the bill unless the provision was dropped from the bill, which it was.

Meanwhile, in the House, pro-abortion Rep. Loretta Sanchez put forward the pro-abortion amendment, as she has in previous years. The House defeated the Sanchez amendment by a 227-201 vote. Pro-life lawmakers gained a 12 vote larger margin than they had to defeat it the last time it was proposed. The House rejected the amendment in each of the last seven years.

To see how your Representative voted, go to
http://clerkweb.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.exe?year=2003&rollnumber=215

Current pro-life law prohibits the use of military facilities for abortions. The policy began as an executive order from the Bush administration in the early 1990s and eventually became law in 1996.

President Clinton signed the current provision into law only because it was attached to a larger bill providing for military funding he approved.

President Clinton allowed abortions in military facilities from 1993 to 1996 prior to Congress adopting the pro-life law. During that time, all military physicians -- as well as many nurses and supporting personnel -- refused to perform or assist in elective abortions. In response, the Clinton administration sought to hire a civilian to perform abortions.

ACTION: Please contact your members of Congress and let them know how you feel about their votes today on abortions at military bases.