Hilda L. Solis: “Mr. Speaker, today I rise also in strong opposition to the so-called Unborn Victims of Violence Act. I am extremely…”

“Mr. Speaker, today I rise also in strong opposition to the so-called Unborn Victims of Violence Act. I am extremely disappointed that the issue of violence against women is being manipulated into a political tug of war. The bill recognizes for the first time a fetus as a person with rights separate and equal to that of a woman. Nearly one in every three adult women experience at least one physical assault by someone that she knows, a partner in many cases. There is no doubt that acts of violence against women, especially pregnant women, are tragic and should be punished to the full extent of the law. However, we must institute legislation that does not erode the legal foundation of a woman's right to choose as a condition of protection against violence. We must support legislation that truly addresses harm to pregnant women and domestic violence. The Democratic substitute being offered today by Lofgren, the Motherhood Protection Act, would create a separate Federal criminal offense for harm to a pregnant woman, instead of recognizing the fetus as a separate legal person. Recognizing the real issue at hand, harm to a pregnant woman, must not be exploited to further a long-standing political agenda. I urge my colleagues to vote against H.R. 1997, and support the Lofgren substitute.”