Thomas Foley: “Mr. Speaker, first I rise in support of the ban and this rule. As most of you know, I never come to the floor to speak…”

“Mr. Speaker, first I rise in support of the ban and this rule. As most of you know, I never come to the floor to speak on an abortion-related issue. Under normal circumstances, I do not believe this is an issue or the business of government. It is a woman's business, a medical business, a family business, a moral business. But it is not government's business. And that also means no taxpayer money for abortions. I make an exception to this bill today, because it involves a medical procedure that the American Medical Association itself says is unnecessary and it is unnecessarily cruel. We just heard from the gentlewoman from Florida how cruel and how painful this procedure is. This procedure is used primarily in late-term abortions, when there is absolutely no question about the viability of the fetus. It involves the partial delivery of what clearly is a viable fetus, and that, by any standard, should amount to murder. Regardless of anyone's position on the general issue of abortion rights, I find it incredible that anyone could condone such an abhorrent procedure, particularly one that is by no means an exclusive medical remedy. I urge my colleagues to support this rule, and I urge them to support the ban as most Americans do.”