[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 66 (Thursday, April 20, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      WOMEN'S AND VETERANS' RIGHTS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, next on women's rights and veterans' 
rights, for weeks, the senior Senator from Alabama has threatened 
American security by blocking over 180 routine military promotions 
because he objects to women in the military accessing reproductive 
care.
  Yesterday, the Senator from Alabama's objections came before the 
Senate for consideration through a resolution that would have 
eliminated reproductive care for our veterans and their families. 
Senator Tuberville lost the vote. Senator Tuberville lost, while our 
women veterans won.
  Yesterday's vote made two things very clear: First, MAGA Republicans 
are so hellbent on eliminating reproductive choice that not even 
veterans and our generals are safe. Americans have made abundantly 
clear that they reject the hard right's anti-choice agenda, but MAGA 
Republicans still double down.
  Second, the Senate has now spoken on Senator Tuberville's anti-choice 
proposal and said no--one of the few instances where a CRA has been 
voted down in the Senate and, in this case, with bipartisan votes 
against it.
  The Senate has spoken. Senator Tuberville has zero excuse for 
blocking 180 military promotions. His objection has been presented, 
considered, and rejected on a bipartisan basis. He should drop his 
holds against our military personnel and move on.
  I urge my Republican colleagues who care about our national defense 
and about our veterans to talk some sense into our colleague from 
Alabama so he can drop his dangerous holds.

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