National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

Floor Speech

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Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

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Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, I rise today in vehement opposition to the amendment proposed by Representative Jackson.

My colleagues on the other side of the aisle like to thank the troops and talk about honoring their sacrifice, and that is all, frankly, empty words and broken promises if this amendment passes.

This amendment puts servicewomen and military families' lives at risk by denying the basic right to travel for healthcare that is no longer available where they are stationed.

Now that Iowa passed anti-abortion restrictions, 46 percent of servicewomen do not have access to abortion care. This would enact a dangerous healthcare travel ban.

Servicemembers signed up to put their lives on the line for our freedoms, our national values, and our constitutional rights. They did not sign up to put their lives on the line or their spouses' lives on the line because they cannot get access to basic care.

I was an officer in the Navy. What I learned was that good leaders protect their squadron. They don't abandon them in favor of their own politics or agenda.

How am I supposed to recommend to young girls in my district that they should attend a service academy like I did when we know this amendment would mean that they would be signing away their right to basic healthcare?

This amendment makes our servicewomen pawns in the majority's extreme agenda and is a steppingstone to larger bans, restrictions, and wholesale disregard for women's healthcare in America.

Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Houlahan), my good friend and a tireless champion for servicewomen.

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Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Chair, I thank Ms. Houlahan for her comments, and I strongly associate myself with the gentlewoman's remarks.

Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin), one of our strongest advocates for women's healthcare.
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Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Chair, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Escobar), who is someone who not only fights for women in Congress but fights against her home State's draconian laws.
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Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Chair, I yield the remaining time to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Crow), who is my friend and a valued colleague and partner in this effort.

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Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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