|
Snowe bill aims to help military
rape victims
Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and
Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said they introduced
legislation designed to help military women who are
victims of rape.
The legislation would lift the restriction
prohibiting the Department of Defense from paying
for abortions when victims become pregnant.
"Any victim facing the horror of rape or sexual
assault needs every option and support made
available to them," said Snowe. "This bill [would
remove] a barrier under current law that prohibits
the Department of Defense from providing access to
critical reproductive health services for our
troops."
According to a study by the Iowa Veterans Affairs
Medical Center, 30 percent of female U.S. military
veterans report having been raped or suffered a rape
attempt during their military service.
Current law permits the Defense Department to
perform abortions in its own facilities in cases of
life endangerment, rape or incest. However, in cases
of rape or incest, the woman must bear the cost of
the procedure. |
