npr.org

Since Republicans took back the U.S. House in the 2010 elections, abortion has been a fairly constant theme. The House took eight separate abortion-related votes in 2011 — the most in a decade, according to NARAL Pro-Choice America.

All those votes were on bills to restrict abortion, including one that became law, reinstating a ban on the use of District of Columbia taxpayer funds for the procedure.

But now abortion-rights advocates may have found something they like that may even get through Congress and to President Obama’s desk.

Last month, with little notice or fanfare, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, got an amendment included in the huge annual Department of Defense bill that would permit military health insurance to cover abortions for servicewomen whose pregnancies are the result of rape or incest.