As you may know, this May the Senate Armed Services Committee voted for an amendment from Senator Roland Burris of Illinois that will allow hospitals on military bases to provide elective abortions, funded by our tax dollars.
Regardless of any legal or political battles on the issue, the citizens of the United States oppose abortions in military hospitals proposed by this amendment. According to a poll conducted on July 14-18 by The Polling Company for the Center for Military Readiness and the Military Culture Coalition, Americans oppose abortions on military bases by a 49% to 41% margin. The percentage of voters strongly opposed (42%) outpaced those strongly in favor (26%). The poll also found that members of the military stand strongly against this practice, opposing it by 14 percentage points (51% oppose vs. 37% support). Both Independents (54% opposed vs. 37% supported) and Republicans (70% opposed vs. 22% supported) are resolutely against abortions in military hospitals.
Current law provides exceptions for abortions to be performed to save the life of the mother or in the cases of rape or incest–but that wasn’t enough for pro-abortion activists like Sen. Roland Burris.
According to LifeNews, Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi led the fight in the Senate Armed Services Committee against Burris’ amendment and spoke out about it on the Senate floor earlier this summer saying, “…if this stands, our military installations, Fort Bragg, Columbus Air Force Base, Keesler Air Force Base in my home state of Mississippi, their medical facilities will be able to be used for abortions, performed late term, abortions performed for purposes of sex selection, abortions performed for any reason.”
Apparently, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee who voted in favor of this amendment are defending their vote by claiming that the amendment doesn’t technically result in taxpayer funding for abortion. The truth is, if the Department of Defense (DOD) Appropriations bill passes with the Burris amendment, abortions on-demand will be performed at military hospitals—and it will be at the taxpayer’s expense.
Americans United for Life President Charmaine Yoest pointed out that military base hospitals are totally paid for by American taxpayers in terms of personnel and supplies.
“Advocates for the amendment argue that the change would not amount to taxpayer funding for abortion, but this is completely false. American taxpayers will be footing the bill for elective abortions by paying for these military facilities, additional equipment, and the use of needed military personnel to perform abortions. Further, more money may be used to search for, hire, and transport new personnel to perform those abortions.”
There is still time to fight the inclusion of the Burris amendment in the DOD appropriations bill—which won’t be voted on by the Senate until they return from recess in November. Visit the SBA List Action Center right now to take action and show congress your opposition to abortions on military bases. Let your voice be heard: our troops deserve better and the assault on the conscience of American taxpayers, and to Life must be stopped.
SBA Pro-Life America's mission is to end abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders. Your secure gift today will help to advance a culture of life and protect unborn children and their mothers from abortion.
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