Political Quotes

“today in this chamber we rise yet another time to protect a women's right to choose. As one of 37 pro-choice women in the Congress, this is an issue for which we must stand and speak time and time again. Anti-choice Republicans continue to take every possible opportunity to raise legislation aimed at undermining a woman's right to choose. Since the beginning of the 104th Congress, the House has taken over 100 votes on family planning and choice--a phenomenal number. From the move to override President Clinton's veto of the partial birth abortion ban, to the so-called ``Child Custody Protection Act,'' to requiring parental consent to access Title X services, the ``Unborn Victims of Violence Act'' that we address today is yet another example. I deplore acts of violence against women, and stand as the strongest of advocates against domestic violence and domestic abuse; however while this legislation purports to protect pregnant women, the reality is that it undermines a woman's right to choose. The bill would criminalize death or injury that occurs at any stage of development, from conception to birth. H.R. 2436 would recognize the fetus as a person, with the same legal standing as the woman's--a status long sought by the conservative movement to attack the Supreme Courts' ruling in Roe v Wade. In order to protect women from violence, this Congress should be passing H.R. 357, the Violence Against Women Act of 1999.”