The National Partnership for Women & Families today applauded the Senate Armed Services Committee for passing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), introduced and championed by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), that would end the ban on insurance coverage of abortion care for military women and dependents who experience rape or incest. Thousands of National Partnership members emailed their Senators to urge them to support this common sense, compassionate measure.
“Nobody sacrifices more for our country than those serving in the military yet, until now, servicewomen have been denied coverage for reproductive health care that civilian government workers have,” said National Partnership for Women & Families President Debra L. Ness. “The Shaheen amendment would cover abortion care for servicewomen who suffer rape or incest, ending a callous and unjust policy that denied vulnerable servicewomen health services they need. We urge the full Congress to prioritize servicewomen’s health by making this amendment law.”
“Servicewomen promise to support and defend the Constitution and our country,” said Cindy McNally, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force (Ret.). “It’s unconscionable to turn our backs on them in their time of need. We owe it to them — and to ourselves — to get this one right.”
“Women who put their lives on the line fighting for our freedom shouldn’t be denied reproductive health care services,” said Gale Pollock, Major General, US Army (Ret.). “The Shaheen Amendment restores fairness to discriminatory legislation that denies servicewomen access to the healthcare they need. At the very least, our servicewomen deserve the same level of coverage as other women who rely on the government for their health care.”
National Partnership leaders commended Senator Shaheen for her leadership on this issue.
More information is available at Stand Up for Servicewomen.
