On the recordOctober 13, 2011
Madam Speaker, it's not news that the majority refuses to address our jobs crisis. But passing time by attacking women's health is appalling. Despite Americans' overwhelming support for the American Jobs Act, today we have before us H.R. 358, a cruel attack on women's health. We could help jobless workers feed their families today. Instead, this bill grants hospitals the right to deny abortions even in life-and- death cases. We could cut taxes for small businesses today. Instead, this bill forbids Americans from using their own dollars to buy private health insurance that includes abortion coverage. We could put teachers back to work today. Instead, this bill denies abortion even for the thousands of women each year who develop breast cancer while pregnant and need an abortion to start chemotherapy to save their lives and retain the hope of childbirth. Americans don't want a war on women. They want a war on joblessness. They want us to work so that they can work. They want us, Madam Speaker, to take up the American Jobs Act. Oppose this rule so that we can get to work on their behalf.
