Schakowsky, who joined her colleagues on the steps of the Supreme Court, said, “Women were given the right to choose what to do with their bodies!  And today we will not let President Bush take away that right.   We will challenge this law and we will win.”

Below is Schakowsky’s statement: 

Today, the Bush Administration is showing the country that it wants small government – small enough to fit inside your bedroom and small enough to fit inside your doctor’s office.
 
Today the Bush Administration is telling America’s women – we don’t care what’s best for your health, we don’t care what’s best for your family; what we care about is an ideological, anti-choice agenda that aims to take away your right to choose!
 
Today, President Bush will sign a law that takes away a doctor’s right to perform a medically necessary surgery despite the consequences to the patient’s health.
 
Signing this bill is just one attack of many in the President’s war against women’s health and choice.  From day one, this President has put politics before science and public health. 
 
Well, we are here to say to President Bush that we will not accept it!  We are here to stand up for our sisters and our daughters and our nieces and our granddaughters.  
 
Over 30 years ago, in this very location, women in the United States were liberated from having to choose between a life-threatening illegal abortion and an unwanted pregnancy.  Women were given the right to choose what to do with their bodies!  And today we will not let President Bush take away that right. 
 
This bill is unconstitutional and it is harmful to all women in the United States.  And that’s why we intend to fight!  We will challenge this law and we will win!