Senate blocks Tommy Tuberville resolution to repeal VA abortion policy
Mabinty Quarshie
A resolution introduced by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to overturn a Department of Veterans Affairs abortion policy failed in the Senate on Wednesday.
In a 48-51 vote, the Democratic-controlled Senate opted not to block the VA from performing abortions. The VA had announced in September it would allow abortion counseling and abortions in cases of rape, incest, or harm to a mother’s life. This was the first time in VA history that abortions would be allowed, and it came three months after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Video Embed
MANCHIN JOINS REPUBLICANS IN OPPOSITION TO VA ABORTION POLICY
The vote marked a setback for Tuberville, who has been waging a fight with the Pentagon’s top brass over a separate policy by the Defense Department that pays for the travel expenses and time off related to a service member’s abortion. The senator said that policy was a violation of the Hyde Amendment, and he has been blocking the promotions of some 180 general and flag officers in protest.
Tuberville originally introduced the measure to reverse the VA’s abortion policy, a privileged resolution that was guaranteed a Senate vote, on Feb. 8. The legislation was co-sponsored by 34 Republicans, with one Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), joining the GOP lawmakers.
The Alabama Republican denounced the policy as “illegal” ahead of the Wednesday vote.
“We’re going to vote to overturn it because it is illegal, it is wrong, and it abuses taxpayer dollars,” Tuberville said.
Manchin said tax dollars should not go toward paying for abortions and pressed President Joe Biden to bring legislation before Congress instead. “If this has to be changed, it should be voted upon. If the legislation that the president wants to do and this administration, then bring it before in a piece of legislation, and let’s go through the process.”
The White House stood behind the policy and threatened to veto the measure ahead of the Wednesday vote.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
In the wake of the measure’s failure, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) excoriated Republican attempts to block the VA’s abortion policy.
“Today, Senate Republicans voted to deny women veterans access to abortion care — telling Americans everywhere that the Republican party wants to force women veterans to stay pregnant — even when their life is at risk, even in cases of rape or incest,” Murray, who also sits on the Veterans’ Affairs committee, tweeted. “That is heinous.”