President Barack Obama's decision to nominate former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) for Secretary of Defense has generated controversy for several reasons, but his past opposition to abortion rights for rape victims in the military does not seem to be a sticking point for progressives.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently sponsored a bill to extend abortion insurance coverage to military rape victims. While Hagel did not cast a vote on that particular legislation, he voted four times between 1998 and 2003 to uphold a ban on abortions at military hospitals, and he announced in 1995 that he had "tightened" his position on abortion to oppose it in cases of rape and incest. "I don't think those two exceptions are relevant," he said at the time, noting the low incidence of pregnancies from rape.

But Shaheen does not seem particularly worried about her differences with Hagel on abortion. "This is one of many issues Senator Shaheen looks forward to discussing with Senator Hagel during the confirmation process," her spokesperson, Shripal Shah, told HuffPost on Monday.

The issue of sexual assault in the military has gained a great deal of national attention since the release of "The Invisible War," a 2012 documentary that examined the military's failure to protect and defend servicewomen who had been raped. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta laid out a set of new rules to combat sexual assault after viewing the documentary, and Congress passed Shaheen's abortion coverage amendment with bipartisan support.

It's unclear whether Hagel will continue Panetta's work on sexual assault and align himself with the administration's stance on abortion, but reproductive rights groups are so far declining to push back against the nomination.

"Our view is that Chuck Hagel would carry out the president's policies," said Donna Crane, policy director at NARAL Pro-Choice America. "President Obama's pro-choice views are strong and well-known, and we believe Mr. Hagel would follow them."

UPDATE:

The Service Women's Action Network, an organization dedicated to stopping sexual assault in the military and advancing servicewomen's rights, expressed hope that Hagel would protect women's interests in his new role.

"While Mr. Hagel has proven his ignorance in the past on women's health care and the equality of all Americans regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, he now faces a historic moment in which he can help determine whether or not our military fully embodies the best of American values and operates at the highest levels the American people expect," said Anu Bhagwati, executive director of SWAN and a former Marine Corps Captain. "He must make sure that there are no setbacks going forward in the full implementation of equal opportunity for military women, including the repeal of the Combat Exclusion Policy, and the guarantee of exceptional health care, including reproductive health care. He must also work to provide equal benefits for LGBT service members and their loved ones. And he must continue to move the military forward in the elimination of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the ranks."

Also on HuffPost:

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  • Chuck Hagel (February 2013 - Present)

    New Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is greeted as he arrives for his first day at the Department of Defense, on February 27, 2013 in Arlington, Va. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

  • Leon Panetta (July 2011 - February 2013)

    Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta pauses while speaking during a ceremonial swearing-in at the Department of Defense July 22, 2011 in Washington. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Robert Gates (Dec. 2006 - July 2011)

    Robert Gates speaks during his ceremonial swearing in as the 22nd defense secretary on Dec. 18, 2006 at the Pentagon. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Donald Rumsfeld (Jan. 2001 - Dec. 2006)

    U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld holds his press conference at the Pentagon briefing room on Jan. 26, 2001 in Arlington, Va. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • William Cohen (Jan. 1997 - Jan. 2001)

    Secretary of Defense designate William Cohen testifies during confirmation hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Jan. 22, 1997 in Washington. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • William Perry (Feb. 1994 - Jan. 1997)

    U.S. Defense Secretary William Perry points to a reporter during a press conference on April 21, 1994 in Seoul, Korea. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Les Aspin (Jan. 1993 - Feb. 1994)

    U.S. Secretary of Defense Les Aspin released new regulations governing gays in the military during a press on Dec. 22, 1993 at the Pentagon. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Dick Cheney (March 1989 - Jan. 1993)

    U.S. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney (L) meets Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak, on April 3, 1989, at Washington. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Frank Carlucci (Nov. 1987 - Jan. 1989)

    U.S. Defense Secretary Frank Carlucci testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on July 13, 1988 in Washington. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Caspar Weinberger (Jan. 1981 - Nov. 1987)

    Caspar Weinberger, Secretary of Defense on Feb. 9, 1981. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Harold Brown (Jan. 1977 - Jan. 1981)

    General Alexander M. Haig, right, retired as NATO commander, walks with Defense Secretary Harold Brown during an awards ceremony on July 3, 1979 at Fort Myer, Va. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Donald Rumsfeld (Nov. 1975 - Jan. 1977)

    A 1976 photo of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • James Schlesinger (July 1973 - Nov. 1975)

    Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan, left, with Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger, chats on Friday, Jan. 5, 1974 at the Pentagon. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Elliot Richardson (Jan. 1973 - May 1973)

    Elliot L. Richardson speaks to newsmen Oct. 23, 1973 at a press conference held at the Department of Justice. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Melvin Laird (Jan. 1969 - Jan. 1973)

    Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird as he departed from Andrews Air Force Base Md., for Paris on Jan. 5, 1971 in Washington. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Clark Clifford (March 1968 - Jan. 1969)

    This is an Oct. 1968 photo of Secretary of Defense Clark Clifford as he announces his support for President Johnson's decision to halt the bombing of North Vietnam. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Robert McNamara (Jan. 1961 - Feb. 1968)

    PARIS, FRANCE: US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara smiles as he arrives 27 November 1965 at Paris' NATO headquarters. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Thomas Gates (Dec. 1959 - Jan. 1961)

    Secretary of Defense Thomas S. Gates Jr., center, poses with Benjamin M. McKelway, left, editor of the Washington Evening Star and President of the AP, and AP General Manager Frank J. Starzel at the April 25, 1960 meeting of the Associated Press in New York. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Neil McElroy (Oct. 1957 - Dec. 1959)

    Defense Secretary Neil McElroy said he has "fullest confidence that the United States is ahead of the Soviets..." prior to the announcement of the Soviet's achievement in launching the first earth satellite, Oct. 4, 1958. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Charles Wilson (Jan. 1953 - Oct. 1957)

    Charles E. Wilson, left, takes the oath of office from Chief Justice Fred Vinson at the White House in Washington on Dec. 21, 1950 as head of the office of Defense Mobilization. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Robert Lovett (Sept. 1951 - Jan. 1953)

    Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower (right) watches President Harry S. Truman and Gen. Omar Bradley help Defense Secretary Robert Lovett (left) get in place as the men posed on the south lawn of the White House on June 1, 1952 in Washington. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • George Marshall (Sept. 1950 - Sept. 1951)

    Anna M. Rosenberg, New York Labor and Public Relations consultant, who is named assistant secretary of defense, chats with Secretary of Defense George Marshall in a conference at the Pentagon on Nov. 9, 1950 in Arlington, Va. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • Louis Johnson (March 1949 - Sept. 1950)

    Defense Secretary Louis Johnson (right) gives new identification card to President Harry Truman at the White House on Nov. 9, 1949 in Washington, listing him as commander in chief for an "indefinite" term. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)

  • James Forrestal (Sept. 1947 - March 1949)

    James V. Forrestal, Secretary of Defense under President Harry Truman, is shown on July 26, 1947. (Source: <a href="http://www.defense.gov/specials/secdef_histories/">Department of Defense</a>)