Senator Murray Urges Colleagues to Vote Against GOP Bill to Cut Off Abortion Access for Veterans
"Despite the rhetoric from my Republican colleagues, this rule they are trying to overturn is a meaningful, modest step to protect our veterans. It simply allows VA to provide abortion care to ensure that none of our veterans or their eligible dependents go without medical treatment when their life is in danger--or are forced to stay pregnant after a rape or incest.
That's it. That is what Republicans are so upset about. They're upset that this administration has taken action to make sure women who have served our country in uniform can get the basic reproductive care they need when their health is at risk or in cases of rape or incest.
These veterans have fought to protect our rights and now Republicans want to roll back theirs. These veterans put their life on the line for us, and now Republicans supporting this resolution want to tell them that when their life is in danger, "tough luck, politics comes first.' No one deserves that.
So I urge all of my colleagues, stand with our veterans, stand with their families, and vote against this unthinkably cruel bill that seeks to force women veterans to stay pregnant--even when their life is at risk, even after rape or incest.
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I have served on the Veterans' Affairs Committee for a very long time. I was in fact the first woman to sit on the committee and the first woman to chair the committee. When I first came to the Senate, I asked specifically to be on that committee because my dad was a veteran. And I grew up with a deep respect for the sacrifices that our veterans make. And I take my responsibility to be a voice for our Washington state veterans very seriously. So, my message to my colleagues ahead of this vote today: You can vote for this bill, but if you do--you are telling Americans everywhere in this country that the Republican party--unequivocally--wants to force women veterans to stay pregnant--even when their life is at risk or in the case of rape or incest. That is heinous. We will not stand for it. We are fighting back. We will not let anyone forget."
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