On the recordMay 4, 2011
I yield myself 3 minutes. Madam Speaker and Members of the House, the problem with this bill is that it reaches far beyond Federal funding in that it subjects women to profound government intrusion, that it restricts women's access to health care, and that it targets small businesses for disparate treatment under the Tax Code. That's why I have more than a dozen organizations, ranging from the American Nurses Association to the YWCA, which are all opposed to this legislation. In addition, this bill will punish women for their private health care decisions, and will subject them to profound government intrusion. So this is not a Democrat versus Republican issue. It is a very important personal decision. Now, the goal of this bill--and I'd like to suggest it from the outset of this discussion--is to make it impossible to obtain abortion services even when paid for with purely private, non-Federal funds. If there is anyone who has a different view about this, I hope that it gets expressed this afternoon. Finally, H.R. 3 subjects small businesses to disparate treatment under the tax laws; and as one who supports small business and workers in this country, that alone would turn my support against this measure. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
