Larry Bucshon: “I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8296. First, I would like to…”

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 8296. First, I would like to say, as a physician, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle need to focus on what their bill really does. Stop talking about ectopic pregnancies, which are a surgical emergency; fetal demise, where, for unknown reasons, the fetus has passed away; and miscarriages, which, clearly, in many cases, are surgical emergencies and are tragic. That is not what this bill is about. I have heard claims the bill only codifies provisions of the now- overturned Roe v. Wade decision. That is simply not true. H.R. 8296 would create a national standard to allow abortions at any time up until birth. As a practicing heart surgeon for 15 years prior to coming to Congress, I operated on children in the neonatal intensive care unit as young as 23 weeks gestation. Even at 650 grams, or 1.4 pounds, and about 6 inches long, I saw life in my tiny patients' little bodies. This abortion on demand until birth act bill doesn't only allow abortions at any point in the pregnancy. It would also preempt and repeal State laws that require informed consent, ultrasounds, or other testing and counseling before undertaking an elective abortion. The American people deserve to know the facts about what is really in this bill.…”