WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) has joined an effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to prevent Department of Defense medical facilities from being used to conduct abortions unless the life of the mother is at risk or in cases of rape or incest.

“We must protect the conscience of taxpayers on matters of life,” Emerson said.  “Military medical institutions are meant for the protection of life, for healing and caring for our military families.  Allowing the lives of the unborn to be taken in our military hospitals is unacceptable.”

In May, a Senate amendment to the National Defense Authorization was adopted in committee to allow abortions in overseas DoD medical facilities.  A previous effort to allow the practice of abortion in overseas military hospitals had failed in 2006 on a vote of 191-237.

“This issue is a constant topic of debate in Congress, and there are continually efforts to expand the practice of taxpayer-funded abortions.  I think we set a terrible precedent and send a terrible message by allowing abortion procedures to occur in military hospitals and then forcing DoD to pay for them,” Emerson said.

The letter, sent to House and Senate leaders, points out that U.S. law has explicitly prevented the use of these facilities to provide abortions since 1996.