Lynn C. Woolsey: “I stand here today strongly supporting the Lofgren substitute. The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) is right, my…”

“I stand here today strongly supporting the Lofgren substitute. The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) is right, my colleagues and I have considered an unbelievable number of antichoice proposals over the last few years, including 200 since the Republicans took over the House of Representatives. These proposals have troubled me; but this bill, the bill that we are considering today, is perhaps the most disconcerting of them all. Instead of openly admitting what they are attempting to do to a woman's reproductive freedoms, proponents of this bill are exploiting a senseless and tragic crime to make their true intentions hidden. Let me be clear. We all oppose violence against women, and we all understand that a violent attack on a pregnant woman is an especially heinous act that deserves a uniquely harsh punishment. But that is not what the underlying legislation is about. Our constituents deserve an honest debate about this proposal and some very honest information. I am sure that many people assume that this legislation if it were approved would have an impact on the tragic case in California after which this case is named. People also probably assume it would create an effective new tool to prosecute many domestic abusers who harm their pregnant wives or girlfriends. That is simply not true. Women are the victims of violence across the country every day, but rarely does this violence fall in the jurisdiction of Federal courts.…”