Eleanor Holmes Norton: “I thank my good friend for her work on this bill that shows she is strong and protective of women. Madam Speaker, I want…”

“I thank my good friend for her work on this bill that shows she is strong and protective of women. Madam Speaker, I want to speak about where this bill started. The District of Columbia was the stalking horse for H.R. 7 until women's groups and I protested vigorously. Sorry, colleagues. We may have chased the majority from the D.C. 20-week abortion bill only to see them now target all of the Nation's women with an even worse bill. However, not even the Republican majority can overrule the Roe v. Wade holding that H.R. 36 is unconstitutional for lowering the Court's as well as scientific findings on when a fetus becomes viable. H.R. 36 focuses on a previability fetus, but it excludes any protection for the health of the woman involved. Shamefully, even traumatized rape victims are punished further by steps that require that they virtually prove they were raped before they can get an abortion. My colleagues, now is the time to oppose H.R. 36. The Supreme Court already has.”