US Senate passes National Defense Authorization Act with expanded abortion access for raped servicewomen

The National Defense Authorization Act is headed to the conference stage this week, after passing the Senate 98 to zero Tuesday night. The bill, which President Obama has already threatened to veto, includes a provision that blocks the transfer of detainees out of Guantanamo. Other amendments would reveal which private defense contractors have legal immunity for their crimes and impose more economic sanctions on Iran. Additionally, Senators who fought for several years to include an amendment that provides abortion care for servicemembers and military families are concerned it will get stripped out in negotiations with the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. On Capitol Hill, FSRN’s Alice Ollstein has more.