On the recordJanuary 24, 2017
I thank my good friend for yielding. I stand here in a unique position; first, to oppose this sweeping attack on women's reproductive health in its entirety, but I also am compelled to discuss the unique provision that singles out the District of Columbia, permanently barring the District of Columbia from spending its own local funds--not a cent of it raised in this Congress--on abortion services for low-income women, thus uniquely denying the District of Columbia government the right that local and State governments exercise throughout the United States using their own local funds. Madam Speaker, H.R. 7 goes further. It insults the District of Columbia. Just to make sure everybody understands that the bill means to include the District of Columbia, it tortuously defines or redefines the term ``Federal Government'' to include a local jurisdiction, the ``District of Columbia government.'' The District of Columbia government is thrown in with the Federal Government. We are talking about U.S. citizens, the people I represent, who are number one per capita in taxes raised to support the government of the United States of America. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired. Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.
