US military says it will grant service members up to 3 weeks leave to travel for abortions | Abortion

The US Defense Department released a series of new rules Thursday to provide additional support to service members and dependents who must travel out of state to receive an abortion, including allowing up to three weeks of administrative leave.

“This policy reflects our continued commitment to protecting our people and ensuring that the entire force remains ready and resilient,” Gilbert Cisneros, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said. said in a memo released on Thursday.

The military is fixing to The decision of the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June where overturned protections previously established in 1973 Roe v. Wade leadership. A new decision has begun as to what is called “trigger laws” in about a dozen states, designed to take effect almost immediately after Roe v. was overturned. Wade.

Many of the most restrictive states — including Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana — are home to major military installations. There were immediate concerns about how service members and their families, who often don’t get to choose which installation and which state they live in, will navigate the changes.

Indeed, Thursday’s Pentagon statement accompanying the new rules says that service members and their families “are not controlled by where they are stationed, and due to the nature of military service, are often required to travel or relocate to meet operational requirements.”

“The efforts made by the Department today will not only ensure that service members and their families are given the time and flexibility to make private health care decisions, but will also ensure that service members are can access non-covered reproductive health care wherever they are stationed,” the release said.

The policy, which takes effect March 18, states that service members will have access to “lawfully available non-covered reproductive health care wherever they are stationed,” and that they will be able to request administrative absence without paid leave. to access that care. Service members may be placed on administrative leave for up to three weeks.

It also “standardizes and expands” the timeline by which service members must notify their commanders of pregnancy to 20 weeks.

The 21 days of administrative absence also applies to other non-covered reproductive health care, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI).

The latest rules follow the exit of general outline on measures to protect service members’ rights and access to abortion last fall, though officials said they were still working out the details. The measures sought to provide travel and transportation allowances for service members or military family members traveling out of state to receive an abortion, and protect military medical providers from civil or criminal charges if they perform a protected abortion.

“Our greatest strength is our people,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in an October memo. “There is no higher priority than taking care of our people, and ensuring their health and well-being.”

Cisneros said in a memo last year that the Dobbs decision would have “significant implications” for service members and their families, “as well as the readiness of the force.” Cisneros also emphasized in his memo that the Supreme Court decision “does not prohibit the Department from continuing to perform covered abortions, consistent with federal law.”

Thursday’s release says travel and transportation allowances may be authorized for service members and their families who need to travel for non-covered reproductive health care.

Covered abortions include those performed as a result of rape or incest, and when the mother’s life is in danger, according to the Hyde Amendment, a 1976 ruling that set when federal funding is available for abortions.

The new policy gives service members administrative leave to accompany a dual-military spouse or dependent to access a non-covered abortion. It also emphasizes that commanders are “expected to demonstrate impartiality, compassion, and discretion when addressing all health care matters, including reproductive health care matters,” and to act “immediately and with appropriate discretion.”

In addition, the new policy prohibits commanders from requiring subordinates to comply with additional requirements, such as religious consultations, medical examinations, or other forms of counseling.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/16/politics/pentagon-abortion-policy-reproductive-rights/index.html