Central Louisiana News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On June 22, 2023, Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) opposed an amendment that seeks to allow federally funded abortion travel by the Department of Defense during today’s markup meeting of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. This amendment was brought forth by Democrats in opposition to the Republican bill that would end Biden’s illegal abortion travel policy enacted in 2022.The Democrat amendment would require the Department of Defense, and therefore the U.S. military, to pay travel costs for military personnel seeking an abortion. This means taxpayer dollars will go toward flights and hotel rooms for those seeking voluntary and possibly late-term abortions. Congresswoman Letlow urged her colleagues to oppose this amendment. The amendment was defeated and Republican policies to stop this practice remain intact.

Click here to view Congresswoman Letlow’s remarks.

“I rise in opposition to this amendment, and I’d like to echo the sentiments of my colleague Mrs. Hinson. 
While we have had many vigorous debates over abortion, we have always historically agreed that hard-earned taxpayer dollars should not be used to fund abortions. The language in this defense bill will end Biden’s illegal abortion travel policy issued under an October 2022 memorandum, and return the Department to the practices in place for decades under both Democratic and Republican administrations. 
It is important to note that under President Biden’s policies, taxpayers are paying for [military personnel] travel to obtain an abortion on demand for any reason at any stage of pregnancy, including travel to a state that allows late-term abortions. 
As a woman and a mother myself, my heart goes out to our moms and babies, and I will do anything I can to support them. But using taxpayer funds to pay for travel services directly assisting in an abortion means that the department is circumventing abortion laws across this country. Funding travel for an abortion is in fact funding the abortion. There is no other reason for the travel expenses. 
I urge opposition to this amendment, and I yield back.” 

Original source can be found here.