Recently the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to lift a discriminatory and dangerous ban on privately funded abortion care for women serving in the military overseas.

This was a huge victory for America’s servicewomen and for women’s health. Since 1995, this ban prohibited a woman serving overseas from receiving abortion care in the military hospital on base where she would normally access health care services. As a result, the ban meant that a servicewoman was forced to venture out to a local medical facility in the foreign country where she is stationed to obtain an abortion. In many countries where U.S. servicewomen are stationed, abortion care is inadequate, unsafe or altogether unavailable.

The amendment passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee overturns this dangerous and unjust ban and simply allows a servicewoman to use her private dollars to pay for an abortion at the secure military hospital where she currently receives care.

Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) proposed the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that repealed the ban on privately funded abortion services for U.S. servicewomen serving overseas.

Senator Kay Hagan serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and voted in favor of the amendment that lifted the long-standing ban on privately funded abortion care for servicewomen.

Senator Hagan needs to hear that her constituents are behind her and that we want her to continue to stand up to protect women’s health. Take action and let her know that you appreciate her vote!

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