Eleanor Holmes Norton: “Almost all abortions in the District of Columbia are performed between six and 10 weeks. Mr. Speaker, I was denied my…”

“Almost all abortions in the District of Columbia are performed between six and 10 weeks. Mr. Speaker, I was denied my request, my request was denied even to testify on this bill, even though this bill affects only residents of my city. I was told that, and I did not insist, that the Democrats had a witness. They had to hear from that witness. Christy Zink had an abortion at 22 weeks, only after her physician told her that she was carrying a fetus with half a brain and that if it were born alive, it would have constant seizures throughout its life. This bill would not have allowed Christy Zink to have an abortion, and she would have had to carry that fetus to term. She has now had a healthy baby. She still grieves for the baby she could not have, but she would never have deserved the punishment that this bill would have inflicted on her. I ask Members of this House to respect the laws and the women and the residents of the District of Columbia. Let us do what you insist all over the United States be done in your districts. We differ. Respect our differences, even as I respect yours. [From the Washington Post, July 27, 2012] The Kind of Woman Who Needs a Late-term Abortion (By Christy Zink) Introduce me to the woman who has an abortion after 20 weeks because she is cruel and heartless.…”