On July 13, the Senate voted, 97-3, to pass the FY2001 defense authorization bill (S. 2549). Consideration of the bill has been ongoing since the beginning of June. The measure would prohibit privately funded abortions in military facilities overseas (see The Source, 6/23/00). Under the measure, women-owned or controlled businesses would be eligible for assistance under the Department of Defense’s Mentor-Protégé Program.
Additionally, the bill would make it easier for military men and women serving overseas to qualify for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children by removing housing assistance from the income eligibility requirements (see The Source, 6/16/00).
Legislation that would expand the federal hate crimes law was also included in the defense authorization measure (see The Source, 6/23/00).
