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Modification to Department of Defense Travel Authorities for Abortion-Related Expenses Act of 2023
2/6/2024, 2:02 AM
Congressional Summary of S 822
Modification to Department of Defense Travel Authorities for Abortion-Related Expenses Act of 2023
This bill prohibits the Department of Defense (DOD) from providing certain funding related to abortion services.
First, the bill terminates the DOD memorandum titled Ensuring Access to Reproductive Health Care (October 20, 2022). Such memo sets forth DOD policies and procedures in response to the Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Under the bill, DOD may not obligate or expend funds to carry out the objectives of the memo or any successor memo.
Next, the bill prohibits DOD from providing any actual or necessary expenses of travel or transportation related to official travel for a member of the Armed Forces or a dependent of such a member who is seeking an abortion or any abortion-related service (except in the case of rape or incest, or when the mother's life is in danger).
The bill provides that limited access of a member of the Armed Forces or a dependent to an abortion or abortion-related services due to the member's duty location does not constitute an unusual, extraordinary, hardship, or emergency circumstance for which travel and transportation allowances may be provided (except in the case of rape or incest, or when the mother's life is in danger).
The bill also prohibits a member of the Armed Forces from taking convalescent leave or using an administrative absence for travel related to receiving an abortion or abortion-related service (except in the case of rape or incest, or when the mother's life is in danger).
