Barbara Boxer: “in fact, they say the so-called partial- birth abortion does not exist. There is no mention of the term ``partial-birth…”

“in fact, they say the so-called partial- birth abortion does not exist. There is no mention of the term ``partial-birth abortion'' in any medical literature. Let me say once again for my colleagues that there is no mention of the term ``partial-birth abortion'' in any medical literature. Physicians are never taught a technique called partial-birth abortion and, therefore, are unable to medically define the procedure. These physicians who are charged with protecting the life and health of women and babies--I might add that what is described in the legislation could ban all abortions. What this bill describes can be interpreted as any abortion. We have a bill called the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, and there is no such thing as partial-birth abortions. What this does is criminalize a medically necessary procedure. So let us get that on the table. Why then would this be before us? I think the answer lies in this letter from OB-GYNs. It is an attempt to outlaw all abortions, to take away the rights of women to choose--not only to chip away at that right, but to take it away, and, by the way, criminalize abortions. What follows from that? Women and doctors will be in jail. That is what follows from that. And if you read behind and between the lines here, when you hear my colleagues stand up, they have been fighting all their lives to outlaw abortion and to overturn Roe v. Wade. So let us get it on the table. That is what this is about.”