House Republicans Put Anti-Choice Extremism Above National Defense and Health of Service Members

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, in response to House Republicans passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) laden with extreme anti-choice policy riders, House Accountability War Room spokesperson Zac Petkanas released the following statement:

“Today, House Republicans put their extreme agenda on full display, using the defense funding bill to advance their anti-choice ideology—one that would endanger the health of military service members,” said Petkanas. “By hijacking the NDAA to push their deeply unpopular and extreme anti-choice agenda, MAGA Republicans jeopardized the bipartisan support that has long accompanied national defense legislation. The inclusion of measures that restrict reproductive healthcare show no regard for the well-being of service members who will now face barriers accessing life-saving reproductive health care. Our military service members put their lives on the line for our country—and they deserve better than extremist Republicans stripping away their freedoms and threatening their access to healthcare.”

Additional Background:

On June 14, the $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act passed with a 217-199 vote. This is the second year in a row that House Republicans have brought a hard-right defense bill to the House floor that historically enjoyed bipartisan support. Republicans added divisive provisions that blocks reimbursement for troops who travel for abortion or other reproductive health care, restricts funding for gender-affirming care for transgender troops, and cuts funding for Pentagon programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion and climate change efforts. 

 

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