Marsha Blackburn: “I pose a simple question: When did this institution and the political discourse lose respect for freedom of conscience…”

“I pose a simple question: When did this institution and the political discourse lose respect for freedom of conscience protections in health care? It is not fair. It is not fair that individuals today may have legal recourse to protect their civil rights but not their constitutionally safeguarded conscience rights. This straightforward bill reaffirms the Weldon amendment protections, gives individuals and entities a private right of action, and makes sure that nothing prevents providers from voluntarily electing to take part in an abortion. It is written to protect a person like Fe Vinoya, who is one of the nurses from New Jersey. During a Conscience Forum just last week, Fe said: Participating in the destruction of human life is not only a violation of my religious convictions, it conflicts with my calling as a medical professional to protect life, not to end life. We owe this to Fe and anyone else who objects to being forced to provide or to pay for abortion services. So I simply urge you, I implore Members to vote ``no'' on the motion to recommit and to vote ``yes'' on the Conscience Protection Act of 2016. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to recommit. There was no objection. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit. The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the noes appeared to have it.”