WASHINGTON, D.C., December 14, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Sen. John McCain and the former Secretary of State Colin Powell are backing a move in Congress that would expand abortion on U.S. military bases.

The two prominent Republicans are supporting a measure to authorize taxpayer funding of abortions for military women whose children are conceived by rape. Currently, bases only provide abortion to save the life of the mother.

If passed, the amended Defense Authorization bill would match federal employee health insurance, which already compels tax dollars to pay for abortions of children alleged to be conceived by rape.

While the Senate has passed a bill to expand the taxpayer funding of abortions of children conceived in rape, the corresponding House measure was passed without the abortion funding amendment.

The bill now goes to committee where Sen. McCain has cast his lot with Senate Democrats.

Explaining it as a matter of fairness, Colin Powell penned a public letter saying, “Unlike other current federal restrictions on abortion coverage, the military ban provides no exception for cases of rape and incest. The current policy is unfair and must be changed.’” It was signed by dozens of military leaders.

Powell, whom liberal Republicans once touted for the Republican presidential nomination, endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. McCain has recently told pro-life Republicans to “leave the issue” of abortion “alone.”

However, military veterans and personnel are not all marching in lock step with their leaders on this issue.

Angela, a former member of the National Guard, is scheduled to meet her 14 year-old daughter’s rapist in court on Monday. She asked that her last name be omitted for the sake of security.

“As a former solider and the mother of a female soldier, I am concerned about this new push to allow abortion in cases of rape,” she told LifeSiteNews.com. “It is my belief, from our experience with the military, that if they allow this practice, instead of helping rape victims it will only further add to the trauma.”

“What better way [exists] to cover up a sexual assault?” she asked. “Allowing or even encouraging a rape victim to abort is not caring for her.”

Angela, before her daughter’s rape, held the popular opinion that is motivating the Senate to change the law: that abortion is the compassionate action for rape victims. “Until our little girl was raped, I would have never understood this mindset either,” she said. “How could anyone ask a victim to keep a child conceived in rape? In my mind that was cruel and wrong for so many reasons.”

But, through experience, her mind was changed. “I could not have been more wrong.”

“Our grandson did not add to the trauma,” confessed Angela. “In fact, he actually helped our daughter and he helped our entire family. His life has been such a blessing.”

Rebecca Kiessling, a board member of HopeAfterConception.org who was herself conceived in rape, told LifeSiteNews, “Right now, a soldier could contemplate raping a woman and, knowing the state of the law, he knows that he’s more likely to get caught if a baby is born. But, what this law does is give rapists hope.”

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“Abortion serves to protect and enable rapists,” added Kiessling. “If you really care about rape victims, you need to protect them from the rapist, not the baby.”

Angela urges the senators pushing for abortion coverage in the defense bill to look at stories like hers and reconsider their position.

She pleaded, “I truly wish that those who are looking at changing this regulation would also look at the other side of this issue.”

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