On the recordJuly 9, 2015
I appreciate the gentleman from New Jersey yielding some time. Tomorrow, the House will vote on the 21st Century Cures Act, legislation that will advance medical research at the FDA and the NIH to lead new treatment for cures for countless people. This is necessary. However, what is not necessary is the dangerous language that Republican leadership quietly tucked in the bill that blocks access to reproductive care. This is unacceptable. As a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, I oppose this and other attempts to expand restrictions on reproductive care. We cannot allow this type of antichoice language to keep appearing in what is otherwise important legislation. Today, it is in legislation to further medical research. Before, it was in legislation to fund community health centers and to protect victims of trafficking. Allowing this policy to move forward will move women's health care backward. We cannot allow these attacks to continue. Representatives Lee, Clarke, and Schakowsky have offered an amendment to strike this destructive antichoice language. Today, I offer them my strong support. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of their amendment and to also insist that we need to stop injecting the Hyde language into parts of law it doesn't belong.
