Defense Department to keep access to "reproductive health care" after Roe v. Wade's end

[brooklynite]

Source: Axios

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday that the Pentagon is working to ensure that members of the military, their families and its civilian employees will still have access to "reproductive health care" after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Why it matters: The Defense Department currently does not have a policy to accommodate service members or employees who are seeking an abortion but are stationed in a state that has outlawed abortion, Politico reports.

Federal law currently allows military medical facilities to provide abortions only in cases of rape, incest or if a woman’s life is in danger, while the military's health program is allowed to cover abortions at private facilities for those same reasons only.

What they're saying: "Nothing is more important to me or to this Department than the health and well-being of our Service members, the civilian workforce and DOD families," Austin said in a statement on Friday.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2022/06/25/defense-department-abortion-access-roe-v-wade

[emulatorloo]

1. Excellent. Thanks for posting. Kick

[tirebiter]

2. Understand, now this is the choice of the president. It has limited coverage of who and where..

If the Republicans get the Preidency in 2024 or anytime thereafter without a change in the SCOTUS or the law, then it’s over. This does only pertain to active duty personnel or their dependents, regardless. I don’t think USAA would cover this. ACA would be covered by state rules as would universal Medicare.

[kelly1mm]

3. Just words/vibes. See this:

"Federal law currently allows military medical facilities to provide abortions only in cases of rape, incest or if a woman’s life is in danger, while the military's health program is allowed to cover abortions at private facilities for those same reasons only."

Good luck getting the votes in congress (particularly the Senate) to overrule that.

[tirebiter]

4. I think that would have to with the Hyde Amendment

Which was not passed into law this year. Biden thought ahead on that one. I’m finding it hard to find anything substantive on this.

[FBaggins]

5. The Hyde Amendment *is* currently in place

Biden "thought ahead of time" in his proposal for the 2023 budget, but there is no sign that he can get a budget passed without it.

It was dropped from the 2022 budget when proposed as well... but we weren't able to get that passed.

It was a "red line" for Manchin. There aren't 51 votes to drop it, let alone the 60 needed to bypass a filibuster.

[FBaggins]

6. Can't tell what this means in practice

Perhaps they're saying that they'll allow for travel to another state?

I suppose it could be saying that if you're in a state that bans abortion including in cases of rape/incest that the military medical services will still provide one... but I'm not sure that they have that option. Have to look at how Hyde rubs up against federal enclave doctrine

[LeftInTX]

8. Military bases cover abortion under those strict criteria.

Military bases within a state are generally exempt from state laws. They would not need to travel to another state.

[FBaggins]

10. Right - which is why I'm still wondering what the effect is

As you say - it's a pretty strict set of standards currently and they aren't changing.

The only thing I could think of was that (previously), someone in the military who needed an abortion (outside these narrow constraints) would have to leave the base and go out into town to see a civilian doctor. But now it's a much bigger deal if they have to travel hundreds of miles for a few days. Servicemembers can't always do get enough leave within a desired timeline.

I guessed that what they were saying was that the services were prepared to accommodate such needs.

I've seen much wilder speculation that the president should set up clinics in the ban states on federal property to overcome state laws, but I don't consider that credible (and certainly don't see it implied here).

[IronLionZion]

7. Almost every woman in active duty is reproductive age

and many of them don't want to be pregnant.

The OP doesn't say abortion specifically so there are probably focused on options for contraception and birth control.

[LeftInTX]

9. Abortion is only legal in rape, incest and life threatening situations at DOD facilities.

However, in Texas abortion is now illegal for rape and incest, unless they are performed at DOD facility. The state does not have jurisdiction on military bases. However, there is fine tuning that needs to be done to keep these services available, such as educating staff etc etc etc

[machoneman]

11. Hey, Biden as C.I.C. could order tomorrow all bases open to any woman seeking an abortion. So....

...tell me why not? And btw, if he orders same, who will stop the C.I.C.? Clarence? Mitch, Boebert?

No effin' way. Oh, and please don't quote Hyde or any other law the SC claims is in effect. They are a rogue passel of black robed R's (well, too many that is) that we can ignore as an illegitimate branch of government. If we ignore them, we win.

[FBaggins]

12. No. He couldn't

"Oh, and please don't quote any law"

You've confused which candidate won in 2020. That sounds far too much like the former guy.

Biden is sworn to uphold and execute the laws, not ignore them.