Abortion Access in the Military

Floor Speech

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Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to condemn the disturbing Dobbs decision handed down by the Supreme Court recently.

With the Dobbs decision, the Supreme Court overturned two historic rulings--Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey.

These two decisions established a constitutional right to obtain the medical procedure known as an abortion.

With the Dobbs decision, for the first time in nearly 50 years, Republicans have succeeded in making sure America's daughters have less freedom than their mothers.

Republicans did this by taking away a woman's right to have an abortion.

It's simple. This decision was made for one reason and one reason only: to control women and female service members, and their reproductive health care.

All women, and especially those who have put their life in harm's way to serve their country, should have the right to choose their own reproductive health care.

Sadly, nearly 80,000 female service members--40 percent of them on active duty--will have no access or very limited access to abortion services in the U.S.

On top of that, women serving in the military experience unintended pregnancy rates 22 percent greater than civilians.

According to a study in 2020, between 2,500 through 4,100 active-duty servicewomen have an abortion annually.

Now, because of the right-wing Supreme Court, servicemembers stationed in states that ban abortion now may need to travel long distances to obtain an abortion.

In my home state of Texas, there are 15 military bases.

Female servicemembers stationed at these bases would virtually need to travel out of state in all cases to get an abortion. As Texas has banned abortions in all cases--even rape or incest.

Shockingly, they need to use their own personal leave to travel out of state. This is absolutely crazy.

You see, only a very small amount of these abortions are done at military facilities as current laws prohibit military health insurance from covering abortions.

The only exceptions are unless the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, or the mother is at risk of death.

Seriously, everyone, put yourselves in the shoes of a young E-1 in the military. An E-1 is the beginning rank for a military career--their pay is roughly $22,000 a year.

That is about $1,833 a month. Trust me, it's not easy to travel out of a large state like Texas on that type of salary.

Many of these servicemembers don't even have cars as they are just beginning their military life and move to different bases constantly.

These are dedicated and strong women who have fundamental rights and should be able to decide for themselves.

They do not need Republican lawmakers telling them what is best for their health.

This is cruel. It's not right. And it must stop.

This is not how servicemembers should be treated. We should be honoring them and their service, but Republicans are only seeking to control them and their bodies.

Even worse, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Dobbs has served as a catalyst for a wave of anti-women efforts led by Republicans across our country.

Some Republicans even want to ban contraception now. It's ridiculous.

But House Democrats, Rep. Speier, we won't let them.

We promise to always stand by women and fight for their rights. That's why House Democrats passed bills like the:

Right to Contraception Act;

Women's Health Protection Act; and

Ensuring Women's Right to Reproductive Freedom Act.

We passed these bills because House Democrats trust women and servicemembers.

We always have and we always will.

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