THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 20, 1996 TAG: 9606200451
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: 30 lines
The Senate voted narrowly Wednesday to repeal a new law banning abortions at overseas military hospitals, a major step toward reversing a Republican initiative a year after it was passed by Congress.
In a 51-45 vote, the Senate rejected a procedural move to block Sen. Patty Murray's bid to repeal the law. The Senate then approved the Murray proposal in a voice vote.
The Senate action conflicts with the position of the House. The differences will have to be worked out in negotiations on a final bill. The provision was inserted into the fiscal 1997 defense spending bill.
The House by a 225-192 vote last month defeated a similar effort to repeal the overseas military hospital abortion ban.
``Women in our armed services sacrifice each and every day to serve our country,'' said Murray, D-Wash. ``They certainly do not deserve to be told they must check their constitutional rights at the door.''
The Senate vote took place during the debate on the $267 billion defense authorization bill for 1997.
The issue of abortions at overseas military hospitals typically affects no more than a handful of cases per year. But it has been a touchstone for debate on the abortion issue.
KEYWORDS: ABORTION MILITARY HOSPITALS by CNB