Tuberville refused to allow the promotions by unanimous consent of the Senate. The promotions could still technically occur, but they would require Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to bring each of the 184 nominees for individual votes.
“Let’s be clear about what we’re talking about,” Tuberville said on the Senate floor. “We’re not talking about access to abortion. We’re talking about taxpayer funding for travel and extra pay time to get elective abortions.”
“This policy includes spouses and dependents,” the senator continued. “We’re talking about taxpayer funding for somebody’s kids to get an abortion in another state. This has never been in the policy until now because Congress has ensured that the Pentagon cannot perform or facilitate abortions, except in legal circumstances and limited.”
Tuberville told the Senate that he plans to continue to block the promotions by unanimous consent unless the Biden DOD changes its policy on funding abortion travel.
“Over the past 40 years, I don’t recall one military person ever complaining that we weren’t performing enough abortions. I want our military to be the strongest and the deadliest it has ever been but I also want the administration to follow the law,” he said. “As long as I have a voice in this body, Congress will write the laws, not the secretary of defense, not the Joint Chiefs.”
