Patty Murray: “let me assure my colleagues, this issue is not about theater. It is about the very real issue of violence against women.…”

“let me assure my colleagues, this issue is not about theater. It is about the very real issue of violence against women. I join with my colleague, the Senator from New York, and thank him for his work on this amendment and urge my colleagues to support it. This amendment is not about abortion. This amendment is about violence against women. We cannot allow violent extremists to use the bankruptcy code to carry out their agenda of violence. If anyone thinks this is simply another abortion or choice issue, let me point out to all of you, there are groups and individuals who teach violent protesters how to protect their financial assets in the event of a civil or criminal penalty. There are classes one can take or pamphlets one can read spelling out how violent protesters can get around any punitive financial damage by simply running to bankruptcy court. It is simply beyond comprehension how we can allow those convicted of violence and intimidation to be excused from punitive financial penalties. If we are serious about reducing violence and sending the right message to our children, we must support the Schumer amendment. In 1998, there were two murders and one attempted murder of clinic workers. Since 1990, abortion clinic arson and bombings have resulted in over $8.5 million in damages. Two bombs were recently discovered at clinics in Kentucky and Ohio. Every day, women are harassed and intimidated as they seek proper health care services.”