Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the gentlewoman from Colorado for her leadership, and I thank the gentleman, Mr. Pitts, because in actuality…”

“I thank the gentlewoman from Colorado for her leadership, and I thank the gentleman, Mr. Pitts, because in actuality this is not a debate on people's conscience and what you believe in. It is a debate and a question of the law. First of all, the underlying legislation that we have before us is likely to be ruled unconstitutional, and it is likely to be so because it meets the very four corners of why the Supreme Court ruled the Texas law to be unconstitutional, and I venture to say that this bill was a copy of the Texas law. In 2014 and 2015, the Texas legislators tried to stop reproductive healthcare clinics by requiring them to have a hospital-style surgery center building and staffing requirements, leaving only seven clinics to provide health care, the same thing where they threatened the same kind of thing which would only leave 10 healthcare providers. Guess what, Madam Speaker; in 2014 and 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled it unconstitutional and stopped the legislature in their tracks. That is what is going to happen to this legislation as well. Let me be very clear: Planned Parenthood does not engage in selling body parts. Yes, as under the law, they do deal with fetal tissue research, which has saved millions of lives. Under the 1993 NIH Revitalization Act, it is unlawful for any person to knowingly acquire, receive, or otherwise transfer any human fetal tissue for valuable consideration if the transfer affects interstate commerce.…”