MAGA Republicans Launch Culture War on G.I. Jane
MAGA Republicans want women to fight and die for America, but deny them access to basic healthcare.
Republicans loaded up the annual defense policy bill with politically charged “culture war” amendments… eliminating transgender medical care and revoking a policy meant to allow service members access to abortion services. This challenge is even worse for servicewomen at military bases in Republican led states that have banned abortions.A servicewomen based in Alabama, for instance who needed an abortion would have to travel to state such as Illinois for care. She would have to pay for her own travel expenses and take unpaid leave to get the care she needs.Check this map for the military bases that would be hurt by this MAGA Republican culture war on American servicewomen.
Mapping the MAGA Republican Culture War on American servicewomen
Shame on them
“House Republicans jeopardized passage of their annual defense bill on Thursday when they voted to tack on a rollback of the Pentagon’s new policy on abortion… Republicans are opposed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision to pay for the travel and leave of service women seeking abortions.Red states have implemented a bevy of restrictions on the procedure, prompting Democrats to warn that conservatives want to ban abortion at the federal level. Some GOP candidates for president have pledged to do just that.“Republicans are so hell-bent on enacting their extreme agenda, including a nationwide abortion ban, that they’re willing to hijack an historically bipartisan bill that authorizes essential national defense programs and pay raises to the brave men and women that protect our country,” Courtney Rice, communications director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement. “Shame on them.” – Washington Examiner
Military bases in Red states that have banned abortions
Puts servicewomen and military families‘ lives at risk
“The Republican provision “puts servicewomen and military families’ lives at risk by denying the basic right to travel for health care no longer available where they are stationed…The MAGA majority is using our defense bill to get one stop closer to the only thing they really care about: a nationwide abortion ban…” – NY Times
Sexual assaults on servicewomen on the rise
“Sexual assaults against female troops have increased by 44% since 2016, with the highest increase affecting junior enlisted service members, according to a Pentagon report.“The U.S. military provides health coverage for members of the Armed Forces and their families through the Department of Defense’s military health system. By federal statute, however, the Department of Defense is barred from providing coverage for abortion care except when a pregnant woman’s life is endangered. The ban provides no exception for cases of rape and incest. Tragically, servicewomen are denied this critical care in an Armed Forces where sexual assault is at crisis levels – when a woman joins the military, her risk of being sexually assaulted doubles.” – War is Boring
No exception for cases of rape and incest
“Military women confront an additional barrier to abortion access when serving overseas. In addition to banning military health insurance from covering abortion care, federal law prohibits military treatment facilities from providing abortion services to women even when patients pre-pay the entire cost of the procedure with their own private funds... imposes grave health risks and leaves servicewomen and their families far worse off than civilian women. For example, a servicewoman who is prohibited from accessing abortion services on a military base may have to resort to local facilities in foreign countries that are substandard or unsafe. In other words, servicewomen and military families are singled out as the one group that Congress has shown the least regard for.” – ACLUT
TakeAway: Stop the MAGA Republican culture war on American service women. Vote for Democrats.
Deepak
DemLabs
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Image Credit: G.I. Jane by Ridley Scott
Reposted from Democracy Labs with permission.
