House Defense Bill Eases Abortion Ban : Military: Overseas hospitals would again be allowed to perform the procedure. The measure, sent to the Senate, faces a veto threat over the issue.

The House, handing a rare victory to abortion rights advocates, voted Wednesday to remove a Pentagon ban on abortions for servicewomen and dependents at military hospitals overseas, although the women would have to pay the costs.

The abortion provision, adopted by a margin of 12 votes--a similar provision was defeated by 16 last year--was attached to a $291-billion defense authorization bill that easily cleared the House and went to the Senate for consideration.

Three years ago, the Ronald Reagan Administration issued an order banning abortions at all military hospitals. The House amendment would cancel the ban only at overseas facilities, on grounds that those stationed abroad find it far more difficult to obtain safe, legal and convenient abortions off base.

The Senate last year demonstrated a willingness to go along with a partial lifting of the ban. However, President Bush has threatened to veto any such move and he almost certainly could find the votes needed to sustain a veto in either house. A two-thirds majority is needed to override.

The House-approved defense bill faces an additional veto threat because it would impose deep cuts in Bush’s budget for the B-2 Stealth bomber and “Star Wars” anti-missile programs. But that threat might fade if the Senate comes closer to meeting the President’s spending priorities for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 and if the House later agrees to soften its position.

After the House approved the defense measure, 268 to 161, Armed Services Committee Chairman Les Aspin (D-Wis.) signaled that he is ready to compromise with the Senate on a provision in the House measure that would limit B-2 production to the 15 planes previously funded.

He told reporters that he is inclined to settle on some number between 15 and the eventual 75 planes sought by Bush.

Cheers went up on the House floor when the amendment removing the abortion ban was approved, 220 to 208, after fierce debate between opponents of abortion and those who favor a pregnant woman’s right to decide whether she should have one.

“When a woman raises her hand to be a part of our armed services, she does not give up her constitutional rights,” said Rep. Ronald K. Machtley (R-R.I.), a co-sponsor of the amendment offered by Rep. Les AuCoin (D-Ore.).

But Rep. Henry J. Hyde (R-Ill.) complained that passage of the amendment would “turn our military hospitals into abortion mills,” since the provision imposes no limits on abortions during the latter stages of pregnancy or on those based on the gender of the embryo.

“Do you really believe the values of our brave service people are so loose they would abort for sex selection? Give me a break. Give them a break,” AuCoin responded.

Until now, abortion rights advocates have had little to cheer about. For years, Hyde has won congressional approval of a prohibition on federally funded abortions for poor women, except in cases when the mother’s life is endangered.

Shortly after the Supreme Court ruled two years ago that states could limit a 1972 decision legalizing abortion, the House voted to restore Medicaid funding to poor women seeking abortions because of rape or incest. Bush vetoed the bill, however, and Congress fell just short of an override.

Kate Michelman, executive director of the National Abortion Rights Action League, called Wednesday’s House action “an extraordinarily important vote, demonstrating a slow but steady building of strength for the right to choose.”

She expressed hope that it would give impetus to federal legislation designed to prevent states from enacting new restrictions on abortion.

Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, voiced little alarm at the House action. “We may let the pro-life senators wave it on through, since it is clear that the President will veto the bill and he will be sustained,” Johnson said.

It was unclear to what extent attitudes on the explosive abortion issue have shifted in the House. Five lawmakers who opposed a similar measure last year supported it Wednesday; but four others switched sides in the other direction.

Johnson said that anti-abortion forces figured they had lost about eight seats in House elections last year and that two other allies subsequently gave up seats that remain vacant.

All California Democrats supported the AuCoin amendment except Rep. Matthew G. Martinez of Monterey Park. The only California Republicans who voted for the amendment were Reps. Tom Campbell of Palo Alto, Bill Thomas of Bakersfield and Frank Riggs of Occidental.

Besides the abortion issue, the House defense bill contains another key provision important to women: allowing female pilots to fly in combat. The provision, expected to be ratified by the Senate, would not disturb a Pentagon ban against women being assigned to roles in ground or naval combat zones.