Graham Amendment on Abortion Policy at Military Hospitals

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) said he was pleased the Senate Armed Services Committee had adopted his amendment to strip out a provision that would have upended a policy on elective abortion in military hospitals. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) had inserted language into the defense authorization bill, which allowed individuals­ to pay for elective abortions in military medical facilities.  Friday, in a closed-door markup of the defense authorization bill, Graham offered his amendment to strike the provision. After debate, the Graham amendment passed 15-11. “My amendment will help ensure military hospitals do not become abortion clinics,” said Graham.  “I very much appreciate the strong bipartisan vote which maintains current law and ensures elective abortions are not performed at military medical facilities.  As a long-time proponent of the right to life, I’m pleased we were able to beat back this ill-advised proposal.”