Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership.

Madam Speaker, of course I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 36, which is nothing more than another ideological attack on women's reproductive rights.

This bill would institute a nationwide ban on abortion after 20 weeks with no exceptions to protect women's health. It adds unnecessary burdens and obstacles to deny medical care to women in the most desperate of circumstances, including in the instance of rape, by requiring women to seek counseling or medical treatment prior to her medical procedure. I remember the days of back-alley abortions. Many women died, and more were permanently injured before Roe v. Wade.

Madam Speaker, with this egregious bill, Republicans have once again decided to take us back there, to threaten physicians, for instance, with criminal prosecution. This bill is unconstitutional; it is dangerous; and it is wrong. No woman should have a politician interfering in her personal health decisions. They should always be kept private, period. And my faith is as deep as those using their faith, imposing their faith on women who must make these very difficult personal decisions.

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Ms. LEE. Instead of passing yet another bill that attacks women, we should get back to the real work that American families desperately need, like eliminating poverty, instituting real criminal justice reform, and increasing job opportunities for all.

For those who say that they support life, then why not support universal preschool, paid family medical leave, affordable child care, and support those life-affirming measures that we are trying to get passed here? So I urge a ``no'' vote on this outrageous attack on women.

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