Women in Military Continue to Face Uphill Battle

Today Senate Republicans have stalled further progress regarding the $725 billion defense authorization bill. Republicans have stalled the bill’s forward momentum by voting against the proposed repeal of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.’  Recent media attention and highly charged rhetoric from both parties has turned the bill from an annual defense spending proposal to another partisan election item.  As midterms are just over a month away and the bill having previsions to change abortion regulations, gay rights and immigration, it has become a game changing piece of legislation.

Currently, abortions services are prohibited from being offered at U.S. medical facilities overseas.  The restrictions do not allow said procedure to be conducted outside instances of rape or incest.  The present proposal seeks to repeal abortion restrictions, and allow military women and families to privately pay for the procedure.

These regulations are particularly detrimental to those who depend solely on oversees hospitals for medical care. Women are forced to travel off base, where the procedure might be illegal and face cultural and communication barriers. The other option is request approval to travel back to the states, potentially jeopardizing their careers. Both options are less than equal to the reproductive rights civilian women are granted domestically.

Opponents of this proposal are spreading misinformation that implies the government would provide federal funding for military women’s access to abortion services.  This is completely false.  Women seeking such health services would pay for the procedure and any administrative cost that would accrue.  Doctors would still maintain the right to refuse to perform the procedure.

Beyond the moral debate the real question is should servicewomen and those who depend on military facilities be forced to sacrifice their constitutionally protected rights while they are serving our country to protect the rights of their fellow citizens?

Within the same defense proposal, Democrats are working hard to repeal the Clinton-era ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy,’ which currently prevents openly gay and lesbian individuals from serving in the military.  Human Rights campaigns have undertaken massive efforts to publicize their fight for equal rights for the gay community, and Democrats have joined the campaign to help repeal the military’s discriminating policy.  Republicans on the other hand, are unifying against the repeal under the justification that not enough time was allocated to offer amendments to the expansive policy bill.

Lastly, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is leading the charge to add an amendment for the DREAM Act, which would present young illegal immigrants a path to American citizenship through military service and academic commitments.

Unfortunately, reproductive rights for women in the military have been pushed aside once again, due to partisan games surrounding ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ Although officials on both sides of the aisle are ready and willing to stand up for the protection of women, today’s procedural vote has stalled any further discussion on other aspects of the defense bill. The issue has long been put on the back burner, and moderate Republicans and Democrats alike recognize the need to put an end to the debate over women’s health rights on military bases abroad.  American women are doing their job to protect citizens abroad, and it is the duty of our legislator’s to protect their rights at home.

Women account for 20% of the U.S. military.  Homosexuals make up approximately 3-8% of the U.S. population.  Lastly, there are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S.  When the percentage of women serving the country overseas, within the immigrant population, and the homosexual community is so large, it does not make sense to selectively advocate for portions of the defense spending bill while ignoring the common thread: Women.

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