After the Department of Defense began allowing service members to be reimbursed for abortion procedures, U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson has successfully passed an amendment that would do away with the practice.
Jackson and more than 70 co-sponsors added the amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, prohibiting the DoD from paying for expenses relating to abortion services.
“On behalf of myself, my fellow Texan Chip Roy, and over 70 cosponsors, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in strong support of my amendment to repeal the Department of Defense’s illegal and immoral abortion policy,” said Jackson on the House floor.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, the Biden administration has encouraged federal agencies to create rules and adopt policies that expand abortion access and leave American taxpayers paying for the procedures.
In October 2022, the DoD released a memo outlining the new policy for service members who want an abortion and live in a state where it is currently illegal. The department says it will reimburse its members and their dependents for travel expenses to obtain an abortion in another state and allow for taxpayer dollars to be used so that healthcare providers can obtain the licensing required to perform abortions.
In his amendment, Jackson states that the secretary of defense has no legal authority to implement any policies in which funds are used to kill innocent life.
“This illegal Biden-endorsed policy has no place in our military,” said Jackson. “Taxpayer money provided to DoD is intended to provide for our national defense and our national security, not to promote and support the Biden administration’s radical and immoral pro-abortion agenda.”
Kim Schwartz with Texas Right to Life told Texas Scorecard the amendment is an essential step in fighting Biden’s radical agenda.
Congressmen Jackson and Roy’s amendment is a powerful step against Biden’s efforts to force taxpayers to fund abortion-related costs. The military should not be a pawn for Biden’s radical agenda, especially at the expense of innocent children in the womb. Biden’s efforts to use military funding to subsidize abortion are unprecedented, and we’re thankful for Congressmen Jackson and Roy’s leadership to protect American taxpayers and protect preborn babies.
The amendment passed in the House by a vote of 221-213, with U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D–TX) being the only Democrat to join Republicans in supporting the measure. The bill was later passed by a vote of 219-210.
Debate on the National Defense Authorization Act begins in the Senate this week.
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