Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I have to say that I agree with the ostensible purpose of the bill that we will be considering today. If the idea is to have additional penalties when a woman is harmed who is carrying a child because that person is more vulnerable, because the harm to them is greater, I agree. That is why I am supporting the Lofgren substitute. But let us be very honest here. There is a true purpose and, frankly, the sponsors of the legislation stated that true purpose in committee and that is to undermine Roe versus Wade. The previous speaker articulately pointed out that we should be protecting children. Well, I am not sure he has actually had an opportunity to read who it is that we are protecting in this bill. We are protecting 'a member in any stage of development who is carried in the womb.' But frankly, I would like to address my remarks to not those who have already a position on whether they believe Roe versus Wade should or should not be undermined. If they believe that there should be increased penalties for people who commit this type of crime to a woman, then they can vote for the Lofgren substitute. The Lofgren substitute, frankly, has the exact same penalty in total years as the base bill. If they want someone to go away for life, the Lofgren substitute will do that. And the sponsors, frankly, agreed in questioning during markup that their objective was not that.”