Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024

Floor Speech

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Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, let me start by saying killing a baby is not healthcare if it is done in an elective abortion. Clearly, the Hyde amendment gives exceptions for life of the mother, rape, and incest.

Mr. Speaker, we shouldn't really have to be here talking about this issue today, but we are. The amendment we are speaking in support of today would repeal the Department of Defense's policy that facilitates elective abortion at taxpayers' expense. Whether those funds are for travel or any other purpose related to abortion, they are illegal.

Mr. Speaker, it seems pretty cut and dry to me and many of my colleagues that what the Department of Defense is doing now is not in line with longstanding and current law, according to the Hyde amendment.

While the administration might disagree with the Supreme Court's decision with respect to Dobbs, that does not give them the right to circumvent the law. Taxpayer funds should not be spent on elective abortion, period.

Republicans are not the ones polarizing this country or injecting wokeness and politics into the institutions entrusted with our defense. It is quite the contrary.

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Mrs. HOUCHIN. Mr. Speaker, what we are trying to do is strip those things out of the Department of Defense and return them to their sacred duty of defending the country.

I voted in support of this amendment during the House consideration of the NDAA because it was the right thing to do.

As the House just agreed to proceed in conference, I strongly encourage House conferees to advocate for its inclusion in the final product in conference.

This is an issue about the rule of law and pushing back on an administration that has demonstrated its appetite to ignore it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Armed Services Committee for his leadership as we head into conference.

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