Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I came to the floor this morning to address what has been an alarming and inaccurate information campaign that is being spread about the international family planning amendment included in this year's State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill. I would note that while this amendment is referred to as the ``Shaheen amendment'' in alarmist and inaccurate blog posts, it is actually bipartisan language that was agreed to by both the subcommittee and full committee chairs of the Appropriations Committee and ultimately approved unanimously by Republicans and Democrats in the committee. Yet articles and op-eds online have condemned the amendment as pro-abortion. I was surprised to hear this given that, despite my objections, the amendment does not address the Mexico City policy--or the global gag rule, as it is known--abortion services, or information. In fact, this is the first time in 18 years--I am going to say that again. It is the first time in 18 years that members of the Appropriations Committee were prevented from offering a bipartisan amendment that would strip the bill of the Mexico City provision. Instead of allowing the established committee process to amend the SFOPs bill with this provision, the entire bill was pulled from consideration.…”