On the recordJuly 10, 2015
I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Colorado (Ms. DeGette), a leader of this bill and sponsor. Ms. DeGETTE. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of the Lee amendment, which removes completely unnecessary and intrusive policy riders attached to the funding provisions of the underlying bill after its unanimous passage from our committee. At best, these policy riders are immaterial provisions that have no effect on the policies and activities of the NIH or FDA. Many of them interfere with researchers and the scientific understanding that can make us all safer and healthier. The inclusion of the Hyde amendment, among these riders, is especially offensive. The last I heard, neither the NIH or the FDA ever performed abortions. And so Hyde's restrictions remind us that even bipartisan efforts are not immune from political attacks. Women consist of more than half the patients in America, and their healthcare needs should not be insulted and restricted by this Congress. I want to thank my colleagues, Congresswomen Lee, Schakowsky, and Clarke, for introducing this amendment. We should remove these policy riders and keep 21st Century Cures' focus on the great potential to do more for patients.
