David Durenberger: “I rise in support of the conference report on S. 636, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994. Last…”

“I rise in support of the conference report on S. 636, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994. Last December, I wrote a letter to the distinguished chairman of the Labor Committee, Senator Kennedy, strongly urging that the conference committee adopt the provisions in the Senate-passed bill. In particular, I urged the Conference Committee to adopt the Senate's reduced penalties for nonviolent blockades, Senator Hatch's amendment protecting places of worship, and provisions that had been worked out among our staff relating to various concerns in the pro-life community. I am pleased that the House-Senate conferees adopted the substantive provisions of the Senate bill. I believe this conference report strikes an appropriate balance between preventing violent and threatening behavior, yet protecting rights to peacefully persuade and express deeply held beliefs. My own convictions are pro-life. But I believe that people on both sides of this issue can agree that violence and threats do not serve either cause; they only drive our Nation farther and farther apart. I am grateful to Senator Kennedy and to Senator Kassebaum, the distinguished ranking member of the Labor Committee, for their willingness to work with me to address concerns that were important to the pro-life community. We put aside our different beliefs about abortion to work toward the common goal of reducing the violence that sometimes surrounds this divisive issue.”