Abortion fight in Senate snarls hundreds of military promotions

FINAL-FOR THE VETERAN OF THE VETERAN SHARE OF THE DAY

Abortion fight in Senate snarls hundreds of military promotions
By Leo Shane III
Friday, Mar 24
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. (center), listens during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on March 9. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Hundreds of military promotions and confirmations are stalled in the Senate over one Republican senator’s objection to the Defense Department’s abortion policies, and even more could pile up in coming weeks if a compromise isn’t found soon.

For the last month, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has blocked consideration of all pending Defense Department confirmations by the full chamber over his opposition to “taxpayer-funded abortions for the military and their family members.” In a press statement on Wednesday and a floor speech on Thursday, he vowed keep up the pressure until the policy is changed.

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