The Honorable Donna F. Edwards
H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
June 18, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 1797, which the House will consider later today. It is another in a long, long line of assaults on women’s health; and it is blatantly unconstitutional.
Reproductive health, including abortion care, is a private medical decision between a woman and her health care provider – period. A woman’s right to choose is a fundamental freedom, and there is no place for dark-suited politicians to impose their personal beliefs on a woman’s private medical decisions.
H.R. 1797 doesn’t even include an adequate life exception that takes a woman’s health into account. It is patently unconstitutional and is completely inconsistent with the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade.
Mr. Speaker, once again it is clear that my Republican colleagues are unable or unwilling to put forth ideas to create jobs, strengthen the economy, or invest in America’s future. Instead, here we go with another ideological battle. American women have one unified message for Republicans: stay out of our doctors’ offices, stay out of our health care, and leave us alone.
