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ismnotwasm

(41,916 posts)
Sat Apr 27, 2013, 09:06 AM Apr 2013

MARCH Onward for our Military Women!

MARCH Onward for our Military Women!

Enactment of last year's National Defense Authorization Act brought about a long overdue and welcome change on the military health care front by allowing military women and dependents to receive insurance coverage for abortion in cases of rape or incest. But the work to ensure that servicewomen's reproductive health needs are met is not nearly complete.

That's why we applaud the introduction in the Senate of the Military Access to Reproductive Care and Health (MARCH) for Military Women Act. Sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and 14 other stalwart supporters of our military women and families, the bill would allow servicewomen to use their own private funds to access abortion care on military treatment facilities. Earlier in the month, Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) introduced a House companion bill, cosponsored by 40 representatives.

The bill, if enacted, would change the current law that prohibits military facilities from providing abortion except in very limited circumstances (i.e. where the pregnancy results from rape or incest or where the woman's life is endangered).

Overturning the current ban would have a real impact on our servicewomen's lives. Because of the ban, a servicewoman who is stationed overseas and needs an abortion is forced either to attempt to obtain care in a local medical facility in the country in which she is stationed or travel to a medical facility in the United States or in another country. Even in countries where abortion is legal, local health facilities are sometimes inadequate, unsafe, or lack trained medical personnel. Servicewomen who must travel to obtain abortion care are required to clear the leave time with their superiors, forcing them to disclose information about private medical decisions. Their superior officers may delay or refuse to grant leave even though each week of delay increases the potential health risks.


http://www.aclu.org/blog/womens-rights-reproductive-freedom/march-onward-our-military-women
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