Dem Women’s Caucus Leadership Warns NDAA Conferees: Don’t Attack Reproductive Rights
Washington D.C. – Today, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Chair Lois Frankel and Vice Chairs Nikema Williams and Teresa Leger Fernández warned the Senate and House Armed Services Committee leadership against including any attacks on reproductive health care in the final NDAA. The DWC leaders made clear that inclusion of any such provisions could threaten final passage of the bill.
“As the House and Senate conferees negotiate the final National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (NDAA), we write in strong opposition to the inclusion of any provisions that attack access to reproductive health care and fertility treatments in the final bill. Inclusion of such provisions could jeopardize the final passage of this important legislation,” wrote the DWC leaders in a letter.
The DWC leaders specifically urged the NDAA conferees to remove harmful provisions in the House Republican NDAA to reverse a Biden Administration policy ensuring service women have the support they need to travel to access abortion care.
“Women—including women service members—already face steep barriers to accessing reproductive health care,” wrote the members. “Approximately 46 percent of women currently serving in America’s active-duty military are stationed in a state with no access or severely restricted access to abortion care. Reproductive health care is essential health care, and it shouldn’t be further restricted or used as a bargaining chip in any form in the NDAA conference process.”
The letter comes after a push earlier this year by the DWC urging House Republicans not to include attacks on reproductive rights in the historically bipartisan NDAA. After ignoring the DWC’s warnings, House Republicans advanced a partisan bill that included attacks on abortion access. The DWC formally opposed House Republicans’ NDAA, alongside most House Democrats.
Read the full letter HERE and below:
October 17, 2023
Dear Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Wicker, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith,
As the House and Senate conferees negotiate the final National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (NDAA), we write in strong opposition to the inclusion of any provisions that attack access to reproductive health care and fertility treatments in the final bill. Inclusion of such provisions could jeopardize the final passage of this important legislation.
We specifically urge the removal of Sec. 716 of the House-passed NDAA. This provision would: repeal the October 20, 2022, Department of Defense (DOD) memorandum titled “Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care,” prohibit DOD from using funds to implement the memorandum or potential successor memorandums, and amend 10 U.S.C. §1093 to prohibit the Secretary of Defense from paying for or reimbursing fees or expenses for DOD health care providers to obtain a health care license in a state for the purpose of providing abortion services.
Women—including women service members—already face steep barriers to accessing reproductive health care. According to the RAND Corporation, approximately 46 percent of women currently serving in America’s active-duty military are stationed in a state with no access or severely restricted access to abortion care. Reproductive health care is essential health care, and it shouldn’t be further restricted or used as a bargaining chip in any form in the NDAA conference process.
We ask you all to stand up for our service women’s freedom just as they have for our freedom. Thank you for your work on this important bill.
Sincerely,
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