Dennis Kucinich: “let us all be clear: the bill before us is unconstitutional because it does not contain an exemption for the health of…”

“let us all be clear: the bill before us is unconstitutional because it does not contain an exemption for the health of the woman who seeks to exercise her reproductive rights. There is no doubt about that. This is because the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled on very similar legislation in Stenberg v. Carhart. Opponents of the right to reproductive choice should know that. This bill likely will not prevent a single abortion, but it does defeat the rights of women. I believe that equal protection under the law and the right to privacy should be freedoms enjoyed by women as well as men, but women will not be equal to men if this constitutionally protected right is denied. This bill infringes on those rights for women. That is why I will oppose it. Throughout my career, I have worked to reduce the need for abortions by preventing unwanted pregnancies through comprehensive sex education, birth control, and increased access to health care. I think that all of my colleagues would agree that we should work to prevent unwanted pregnancies that lead to abortions. I will continue those efforts, but the bill before us today is the wrong way to do that. Advocates of this bill who want to stand in defense of life would be helpful if they worked to support families with adequate child care funding, child tax credit relief for vulnerable families, and peace. For some, this debate is only about politics.…”