[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 20, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2136-S2137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   National Defense Authorization Act

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, this week marks the 1-year anniversary of 
the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. This 
disastrous decision has sown chaos and confusion across the country and 
led to dozens of States restricting or banning abortion care.
  Republicans are obsessed with banning abortion nationwide, and they 
are using every vehicle possible to advance their radical anti-abortion 
agenda.
  Tomorrow, my colleagues and I on the Armed Services Committee will 
begin our markup of the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization 
Act. The NDAA is an annual bill that sets our Nation's defense policy. 
Despite our differences, Congress has come together to pass an NDAA on 
a bipartisan basis every year for the last 62 years.
  While Republicans and Democrats may disagree about military policy, 
we have always kept the readiness of our forces above politics. From 
combating threats abroad to rebuilding DOD infrastructure at home, we 
have no shortage of important issues to work through in this year's 
bill, but right now my Republican colleagues are threatening to derail 
the bill by injecting anti-abortion provisions into a bill that has 
nothing to do with abortion.

  After the Supreme Court's disastrous Dobbs decision, the Department 
of Defense clarified their travel policy to enable servicemembers 
stationed in States with abortion restrictions to travel in order to 
receive reproductive care. This updated travel policy in no way, shape, 
or form authorizes the DOD to pay for abortion care. There is no 
language in these provisions that pays for abortion. They simply allow 
servicemembers to access care they would otherwise be able to access 
but for being stationed in States that do not allow such care.
  My Republican colleagues are hell-bent on outlawing abortion 
nationwide and exerting control over servicemembers' freedom by 
preventing their travel to receive healthcare. Amending the NDAA is 
just one way to impose their will on the Department of Defense.
  In another example, one of my Republican colleagues on the committee 
currently has a hold on more than 250 general and flag officer 
promotions within the Department of Defense because he objects to the 
DOD's travel policy and wants to make a point

[[Page S2137]]

about his displeasure. The Secretary of Defense as well as Secretaries 
of the Army, Navy, and Air Force have all testified that these holds 
impact our national security.
  Radical Republicans are pandering to their MAGA base, and the 
American people will pay the price. While the Republicans continue 
their anti-abortion crusade, we should be working to craft an NDAA that 
addresses the real challenges our servicemembers face and gives them 
the resources they need to continue protecting our Nation, including 
access to healthcare.
  That is what I will be focused on when we begin our markup tomorrow, 
and I urge my Republican colleagues to join us in this important task 
in the NDAA markup that will begin tomorrow. Our servicemembers and the 
American people are counting on us to get this job done.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Markey). The Senator from Tennessee.