Sam Gejdenson: “today I rise to express my opposition to H.R. 1833, the so-called ``Partial-Birth'' Abortion bill. I voted against this…”

“today I rise to express my opposition to H.R. 1833, the so-called ``Partial-Birth'' Abortion bill. I voted against this measure last year when it was first considered by the House and I will do so again today because I do not believe that Congress is the proper authority to decide the appropriateness of a particular medical procedure. This decision should be made by a woman, her family and her physician. Further, in addition to being the first step in an all-out assault on a woman's right to choose, this bill is also unconstitutional since it fails to make an exception for the life and health of the mother as required by Roe v. Wade. For that reason, President Clinton has indicated that he will veto this measure. Proponents of H.R. 1833 would like the public to believe that the women who have third trimester abortions do so because after 6 months of pregnancy, they suddenly decide that they do not want a baby. This could not be further from the truth. The women I have heard speak about their experiences--Mary-Dorothy Line, Tammy Watts, Coreen Costello--all desperately wanted their babies, but severe fetal abnormalities left no chance of the child surviving outside of the womb. Nevertheless, they have all insisted that while their decision to have this procedure was a painful one, it was their decision, not one forced upon them by the Federal Government.”