Lloyd Bentsen: “I oppose the override because this legislation is fundamentally flawed and would put at risk the life, health, and…”

“I oppose the override because this legislation is fundamentally flawed and would put at risk the life, health, and fertility of women facing one of the most difficult, anguished, and personal decisions imaginable. First, let me say that I oppose late-term abortions except, as the U.S. Supreme Court requires, when necessary to protect the life or health of a woman. H.R. 1833 falls woefully short of meeting this critical standard. H.R. 1833 provides only a partial exception to protect the life of a woman, and even this partial exception may be invoked only under a very narrow set of circumstances. In other words, this legislation takes away the authority of a physician to select the best medical procedure for saving a woman's life. Furthermore, this legislation includes no exception whatsoever when a woman faces a severe threat to her health or her ability to have children in the future. I would support this legislation if its proponents would allow an amendment to reflect not only the Supreme Court's rulings, but State law in Texas.”