{"id":66645,"date":"2022-06-10T15:08:58","date_gmt":"2022-06-10T15:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/06\/10\/military-abortion-options-expected-to-be-debated-in-annual-defense-bill-process\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:01:17","slug":"military-abortion-options-expected-to-be-debated-in-annual-defense-bill-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2022\/06\/10\/military-abortion-options-expected-to-be-debated-in-annual-defense-bill-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Military abortion options expected to be debated in annual defense bill process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The nationwide debate over abortion<\/a> will be a key point of contention in the upcoming defense authorization bill process later this month, with a key Democratic lawmaker saying the issue needs to be part of the military readiness discussion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf readiness is impacted by the fact that women are going to have to travel thousands of miles when they are in need of an abortion service, then we need to look at that,\u201d Rep. Jackie Speier<\/a>, D-Calif., and chairwoman of the House Armed Services Committee\u2019s personnel panel, said this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Committee staff said no specific language regarding military abortion services or access was included in the personnel section of the measure approved on Wednesday. Instead, the language focuses on things like the annual military pay raise and family support provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But committee members will be able to offer a wide range of amendments on the issue as part of the full committee mark up on June 22.<\/p>\n\n\n\t