Political Quotes

“let us be clear what the Smith-Livingston amendment is all about. It is not to improve family planning around this country. It is not for women to get better access to primary care, which they now get under the existing title X program, which, for the most part, is distributed through State funds for the States to operate. What this is is ideological; it is a payback to the religious right, who hate the idea that some people feel free to engage in sex outside of marriage because of contraception. Well, let us understand something: Many of the women who go to clinics are married and they do not want to have a child, and they want contraception for that reason. Let us understand something else: That many of the people who are going to be denied family planning services are still going to have sex. But what they are also going to have is unintended pregnancies. What is the answer we get from those who oppose this program? Well, what they suggest, those who claim they are against abortion, is end this program, which will lead to more abortion. Mr. Chairman, I urge a defeat of the Smith-Livingston amendment.”