After two days of debate, the House on May 18, voted 353-63 to pass the FY2001 defense authorization bill (H.R. 4205). The bill was brought to the floor under two separate rules due to a break in the congressional schedule on May 17.
Overall, the measure would authorize $310 billion in FY2001 for the Department of Defense (DoD). Family housing would be authorized at $3.6 billion and child development centers would be authorized at $43 million. The bill also includes language requiring the Navy to notify Congress of its intent to change its current policy prohibiting women from serving on submarines. Congress would have 120 days to overrule the Navy’s decision. The provision also would prohibit the use of funds by the Navy to reconfigure existing submarines to accommodate female crew members. The language, sponsored by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), was adopted, 31-21, by the House Armed Services Committee on May 10. Last week’s Source erroneously reported that the amendment had not been offered.
During House consideration on May 17, the House approved, by voice vote, an amendment offered by Reps. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and James Talent (R-MO) that would require DoD to study the practice of contract bundling and its impact on “small business concerns, economically and socially disadvantaged business, and small business concerns owned and controlled by women.” The amendment also would require DoD, in conjunction with the General Accounting Office, to establish a database on DoD contracts that have been bundled.
“From fiscal year 1997 through 1999 the number of prime contracts awarded to small businesses by the Department of Defense has decreased by over 34 percent; the number of contracts awarded to minority-owned firms has decreased by over 25 percent; and most dramatically, the number of contracts awarded to woman-owned businesses has decreased by over 38 percent,” argued Rep. Velazquez.
On May 18, Members rejected, 195-221, an effort by Reps. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Connie Morella (R-MD), and Nita Lowey (D-NY) to repeal a ban on privately funded abortions in military facilities overseas. From 1973 to 1988 and from 1993 to 1995, DoD allowed privately funded abortions at overseas military hospitals, but that policy was negated with the passage of the FY1996 defense authorization bill, which codified the restriction.
Under current law, DoD covers abortions in domestic and international facilities only in cases of rape, incest, or if the life of the pregnant woman is endangered. In 1996, the abortion restriction was written into permanent law, with an exception to save the life of the pregnant woman only. During last year’s authorization process, rape and incest were added to the list of exceptions, but were not codified. Arguing in favor of the amendment, Members stated that military women who serve overseas should be afforded the same rights as women in the U.S. “Women who volunteer to serve in our Armed Forces already give up many freedoms and they risk their lives to defend our country. They should not have to sacrifice their privacy, their health and their basic constitutional rights because of a policy that has no valid military purpose,” stated Rep. Sanchez.
Opponents countered that even if the procedure was paid for with personal funds, taxpayer money funds the facilities and the doctors. “If the Sanchez amendment were adopted, not only would taxpayer-funded facilities be used to support abortion on demand, but resources would be used to search for, hire and transport new personnel simply so that abortions could be performed,” argued Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA).
The Senate bill (S. 2550) maintains current law with respect to the abortion restriction. Additionally, the Senate bill would make women-owned or controlled businesses eligible for assistance under DoD’s Mentor-Protégé Program.
