On the recordMay 13, 2015
This is an outrage. We are again debating a bill that takes away women's constitutional rights. I agree with the gentleman from Arizona that we are privileged. We are privileged to be Members of Congress and represent our districts and our country, but we are not medical experts, and we are not privileged to insert ourselves into these most personal decisions that must remain with women, their doctors, their families, and their faith. Clearly absent from this Congress' agenda is any discussion about persistent wage inequality hurting women and their families. What about paid parental leave? or making sure families get access to quality child care? What are we doing about feeding hungry children? or making sure that every child can access education? How about anything at all concerning women that doesn't have to do with restricting reproductive rights? Let's call this bill what it is. It is an unconstitutional bill that would force survivors of sexual assault and incest to jump through hoops in order to get the medical care they need. This bill is an insult to women and to their families. As women and families are working hard to move this country forward, we are seeing a Republican Congress obsessed with moving us backwards. I urge this Congress to get back to work for them and reject this unconstitutional and insulting bill.
