Katie Porter: “Mr. Chairman, we should start out by admitting to ourselves that this particular amendment, this subject matter, does…”

“Mr. Chairman, we should start out by admitting to ourselves that this particular amendment, this subject matter, does not belong in an appropriations bill. It is a matter that belongs before an authorizing committee. It is a matter that should not be taken up here, and it is a matter that, unlike an appropriation, would make under its terms a permanent change in the authorizing law, a permanent change in U.S. law. Mr. Chairman, in my judgment, confidential access to family planning services is absolutely critical to providing teenagers appropriate medical care and timely advice. I believe that the Istook-Manzullo amendment would be destructive of that happening. It would create a barrier between teenagers and health care services, and would, in effect, destroy any chance to get the kinds of services that prevent pregnancies, help to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, and in the end help to prevent abortions.”