Support the Sanchez Amendment to the FY 2003 Defense Authorization Bill

Dear Representative:

The American Civil Liberties Union urges you to support an important women's health amendment that will be offered by Representative Loretta Sanchez during tomorrow's floor vote on the FY 2003 Department of Defense Authorization Bill. The Sanchez Amendment would ensure equal access to comprehensive reproductive health care for all U.S. servicewomen and military dependents, regardless of where they are stationed. At a time when we are expecting so much from our military women, it is critical that they have every resource at their disposal to meet their health needs. 

Current law prohibits women from obtaining abortion services at U.S. military hospitals, even if they pay for these services with their own private funds. For military women and dependents stationed overseas, this restriction poses grave health risks because local facilities are often inadequate or entirely unavailable. Traveling to a safe facility can result in delays that may substantially increase the risks of an abortion procedure. 

The ban on privately funded abortions also discriminates against women and their families who have volunteered to serve their country and have been assigned to military stations overseas. These women are prohibited from exercising their fundamental constitutional right to choose simply because of their military service and were they have been stationed. In a letter to Congress dated May 7, 1999, the Department of Defense opposed this harmful restriction, emphasizing that "it is unfair to female service members, particularly those assigned to overseas locations, to be denied their constitutional right to the full range of reproductive health care." 

The ACLU urges you to support the Sanchez Amendment, which would repeal this dangerous and discriminatory ban. Our military women deserve no less at this critical time. 

Sincerely, 

Laura W. Murphy
Director 

Gregory T. Nojeim
Associate Director and Chief Legislative Counsel