Fri Feb 17, 2023 – 6:46 pm EST
WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) – The Department of Defense (DOD) released a series of memos stating that it would pay the travel expenses of service members seeking abortions or fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and grant them paid leave while obtaining it.
The memos, released Thursday, state that “the DOD health care provider will place the Service member considering pregnancy termination in a medical temporary nondeployable status without reference to the Service member’s pregnancy status, until appropriate medical care and the necessary recovery period are complete.”
Soldiers have 20 weeks to notify their relative departments of their intent to access “reproductive health care” and a leave of absence of up to 21 days with pay for as long as their travel and “care” requires, subject to their commander’s approval. The policy also allows for leave and pay for service members to accompany spouses or dependents seeking “care.”
New: Ranking Member @RepAdamSmith issued the following response to new @DeptofDefense policies on reproductive health care access for service members and their families.
Read the DOD’s full announcement here: https://t.co/T0teUxIAnT pic.twitter.com/IuWqRNi5W6
— House Armed Services Democrats (@HASCDemocrats) February
The remainder of this article is available in its entirety at LifeSite News
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