Barbara Lee: “After 4 days and 15 rounds of votes, the new Republican majority has finally chosen a Speaker. Their first order of…”

“After 4 days and 15 rounds of votes, the new Republican majority has finally chosen a Speaker. Their first order of business is to trample on the hopes of the people that elected them. The rules package that we see before us contains no less than three bills that strip people in this country of their reproductive freedom. These bills are a slap in the face to voters who proved time and time again at the polls last year that they believe in reproductive freedom and abortion access. From Kentucky to Kansas to my home State of California, our constituents believe that the right to make decisions about their life and their health, including about abortion, lies with them, not with you, not with me, not with any elected official. This rules package is meant to help this body govern, not restrict the personal autonomy of millions. As one who has had an abortion, I know how horrific this rules package is. It is our bodies. It is our choices. Mr. Speaker, this dysfunction and hypocrisy is shameful, and the people deserve better.”