Tina Smith: “I rise in support of the Women's Health Protection Act. I am here today because I believe, as do most in this country…”

“I rise in support of the Women's Health Protection Act. I am here today because I believe, as do most in this country, that people should have the freedom to receive the reproductive healthcare they need, including abortion. The Women's Health Protection Act would protect that freedom. Now, I am the only Senator in this body who has ever worked for Planned Parenthood. I learned firsthand in that job that, if people don't control their reproductive lives, they don't control anything in their lives. Working at Planned Parenthood in Minnesota was an honor, and I had the opportunity to hear the stories of patients, each with individual, unique, personal reasons for receiving an abortion. This is still the case for the patients who visit all of these clinics today. Here is one story about a woman named Liz from Edina, MN. At Liz's 18th-week ultrasound appointment, Liz's doctor told her that her pregnancy was incompatible with life. She would either miscarry or the baby would die moments after birth. Because of this diagnosis, Liz decided to have an abortion. It was an agonizing experience for her, but she was able to make the decision on her own terms. Another story I want to share today comes from a patient from Minneapolis. At the age of 20, they were in an abusive relationship and found themselves 7 weeks pregnant. They went to Planned Parenthood for their abortion, and that abortion helped them to break from their affiliation with their abuser.…”