Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “I rise to oppose the closed rule that is before us this afternoon, and amazingly because it does not talk about…”

“I rise to oppose the closed rule that is before us this afternoon, and amazingly because it does not talk about abortion, it does not stop one abortion, but stops a procedure that trained professionals have been trained to make those decisions. It takes that right away from them. As a new person in Congress and having served 18 years in the Michigan House of Representatives, I am appalled that such a rule would come before this Congress where we would not be allowed to debate the issue, where we would not be allowed to actually set forth our opinions and then come to a final vote. The proposed rule that is before us this afternoon is not fair, it is not right, and it does not allow those who have been elected by our constituencies across America to represent our views and to speak for them. I urge my colleagues, vote against this closed proposed rule.”