Political Quotes

“one of my fundamental principles is that government not interfere with the basic freedoms of our families, and a basic freedom for the health of women includes reproductive health choices. This legislation threatens that freedom by inappropriately intervening in the decisions of patients and their doctors. Late-term abortions are, as has been demonstrated time and again, accepted medical practice that at times is the only procedure available to protect a woman's life and her ability to safely have a healthy baby in the future. Years ago, when we first started debating this legislation on the floor of this House, I was struck that while proponents try to horrify people, I was indeed struck by the real cases of real families that would be devastated by this amendment, as was pointed out by the gentlewoman from New York. This legislation further is part of an insidious ongoing assault to erode not just reproductive freedoms, but perpetuate a trend as shocking as it is unfortunate of some in this Congress, imposing their theology on our citizens, regardless of other people's own strongly held beliefs and individual needs. Only weeks ago, this Congress, because of a theological clash with science, voted to make it illegal to use potentially life-saving therapies to help with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other degenerative or traumatic diseases, leaving people crippled and dying.”