[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 143 (Thursday, September 14, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

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                               speech of

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 1995
       The House of Committee on the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2126) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes:

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the DeLauro 
substitute to the Dornan amendment. I oppose the Dornan amendment, 
which prohibits any funds from being used to perform abortions in 
military medical facilities except in the case of life endangerment of 
the mother.
  American women are guaranteed the constitutional right to obtain safe 
and legal abortions. The restrictive language in the Dornan amendment 
is obvious in its intent to deny that right to women who selflessly 
serve this country overseas. This is unjust and unreasonable.
  The health and safety of women is clearly threatened by the Dornan 
amendment. Denying women the opportunity to obtain a safe abortion from 
qualified doctors in a military hospital does not mean they will decide 
against abortion. Instead, we will see them seeking abortions in an 
unfamiliar, foreign environment where the opportunity to be treated by 
a skilled medical professional is not available.
  This amendment, as so many others we have seen in the course of this 
Congress, sacrifices the health, safety, and constitutional rights of 
women to further a pro-life agenda.
  I urge my colleagues to recognize the rights of American 
servicepeople and their families. Oppose the Dornan amendment and 
support the DeLauro substitute and women's right to choose.


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