Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the proposed Florida State Constitution amendment No. 4. Amendment 4 is a dangerous and ill-advised amendment that will make women and newborns less safe. Amendment 4 will overturn multiple State laws and regulations meant to protect the health and safety of women and children. As a medical doctor, I know how dangerous abortion procedures can be. The Florida State legislature has wisely placed safeguards that protect the health and safety of women and babies in our State. These include a requirement for a physician to perform the procedure, sanitation standards, and follow-up care requirements. None of these safeguards are included in amendment 4. Additionally, the vague viability standard outlined in amendment 4 invites litigation and controversy, and I am personally opposed to it. I have witnessed firsthand as medicine has evolved to allow babies born earlier and earlier in pregnancy to survive. If amendment 4 passes, babies who can survive outside the womb will be left unprotected. In fact, I, myself, have performed a number of in utero surgeries on unborn babies as young as 18 weeks. These fragile lives are worth saving and modern medicine has made it possible. I am unapologetically pro-life, and amendment 4 is a step in the wrong direction. This dangerous amendment will jeopardize the health and safety of women and babies across the State and lead to unsafe and even full-term abortions.…”