Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–July 26, 2013. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved yesterday a provision that would lift the total ban on abortion coverage for Peace Corps Volunteers in the bill that funds U.S. foreign affairs. This provision would grant women in the Peace Corps access to abortion coverage in cases of rape, incest or life endangerment—the same coverage that women in the armed forces receive. A broad bipartisan majority supported the bill (23 Senators voted in favor and seven opposed).
“The Peace Corps provision is a matter of basic fairness and access to health care. It will ensure that a woman serving in the Peace Corps has the same access to abortion if she is the victim of rape or incest, or when her life is endangered, as women in the armed services,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “I urge Congress to include this provision in the final fiscal year 2014 budget and correct a long-standing injustice.”
“No woman should have to sacrifice access to health care in order to serve her country,” said Latanya Mapp Frett, vice president—global, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “As a former Peace Corps Volunteer, I commend the late Senator Frank Lautenberg and Senator Jeanne Shaheen for leading efforts to ensure that women in the Peace Corps receive the health care coverage they need and deserve.”
Source: plannedparenthood.org
