Nancy L. Johnson: “I am proud to be an American. I am proud to be a citizen in the freest Nation in the world. We have the confidence in…”

“I am proud to be an American. I am proud to be a citizen in the freest Nation in the world. We have the confidence in America that if everyone is allowed to speak up, to share their experience, to share their knowledge, we as a Nation will find the best and truest path into the future. I am proud that I am part of a country that trusts what is an extraordinarily difficult process, because it is difficult sometimes to trust the chaos that comes with public debate about difficult issues. And so I am humiliated as I stand here as an American to watch Members of this House impose on other countries a limit on their citizens' rights to speak up, to advocate what they think their government ought to do in governing themselves. Mr. Chairman, the underlying bill denies the use of American dollars for abortion; that is that. The underlying bill denies the right to counsel women to go get an abortion; that is that. I do not agree with it; but that is that. That is not the issue that so profoundly concerns me about the amendment, which I strongly oppose. If America's policy is to be no American funds for abortion, no American funds to counsel for abortion, so be it. But we do know that empowering women with the knowledge to space their children, to have healthy pregnancies, not only saves lives but produces healthy mothers and healthy babies. I am glad that there is money in the bill for family planning.”