[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 2 (Thursday, January 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E82]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE FREEDOM OF CHOICE FOR WOMEN IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICES ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 9, 1997

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, among the more extreme laws put in place by 
the last Congress is the policy banning privately funded abortions 
performed at overseas military hospitals. This policy means that women 
serving overseas in our Nation's Armed Forces cannot exercise the same 
constitutional rights afforded women living in the continental United 
States. These servicewomen and their dependents could be forced to seek 
illegal and unsafe procedures or could be forced to delay the procedure 
until they can return to the United States.
  This is an issue of fundamental fairness. Servicewomen and military 
dependents stationed abroad do not expect special treatment, only the 
right to receive the same constitutionally protected medical services 
that women in the United States receive.
  That's why today, as the senior Democratic woman on the House 
National Security Committee, I am introducing the ``Freedom of Choice 
for Women in the Uniformed Services Act.'' This bill simply repeals the 
statutory prohibition on abortions in overseas military hospitals and 
restores the law to what it was during most of the Reagan 
administration. If enacted, women would be permitted to use their own 
funds to obtain abortion services. No Federal funds would be used and 
health care professionals who are opposed to performing abortions as a 
matter of conscience or moral principle would not be required to do so.
  I would like to thank my colleagues Connie Morella, Rosa DeLauro, Sue 
Kelly, Ron Dellums, John Baldacci, Eva Clayton, John Conyers, Sam Farr, 
Barney Frank, Martin Frost, Lynn Rivers, Lucille Roybal-Allard, and 
Louise Slaughter for joining me as original cosponsors.
  I urge the House to take up and pass this important legislation 
restoring the right of freedom of choice to women serving overseas in 
our Nation's Armed Forces.

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