Political Quotes

On the recordDecember 17, 2025
I rise today to say as clearly as I possibly can: Politicians have no role in the medical exam rooms. As a physician who spent 20 years caring for patients, I know responsible care requires building trust and understanding between a patient, their parent, and their physician. I never consulted a politician, and no doctor ever should. At a time when our country is facing a critical physician shortage, Republicans are threatening them with going to prison simply for providing evidence-based care. This legislation fundamentally breaks a critical trust between patients, their parents, and their physicians, pulling them into a dangerous political crusade that targets our vulnerable transgender youth. I offered two amendments: One to ensure no doctor can be imprisoned for providing evidence-based care and one to provide parents with protection when supporting their children's health. Republicans refused a vote on both. We should be empowering doctors to take care of their patients, not locking them up. I will be relentless to keep politicians out of the exam room.
Said by
Maxine Dexter
Oregon

Editor's note · Context

Addressing the role of politicians in medical care and legislation affecting transgender youth.

Share

More from Maxine Dexter

Nov 20, 2025

this past weekend, I visited the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum with my daughter. I had been before, but the timing of this visit was very intentional. I went to reflect on the horrific history of dehumanization and ethnic…

govinfo.gov
Feb 12, 2026

I rise today to tell the American people exactly what their tax dollars are being used for: imprisoning children, even infants. Last month, DHS agents detained a sick 7-year-old and her parents in an urgent care parking lot while they were…

govinfo.gov
Sep 10, 2025

we are wasting valuable time trying to ban the display of Pride flags in any workplace or common area at the Department of Defense. This is time that could be used to fund the government or lower costs for working families. This obsession…

govinfo.gov
Jun 4, 2025

Oregon's Crater Lake National Park is a national treasure. As a lifelong hiker and camper, I have a deep affection for it among other national parks. During my high school and college years, road trips to national parks like Crater Lake…

govinfo.gov

Other voices in this conversation