Providing for Consideration of H.R. 358, Protect Life Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of California. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this rule and this bill. Instead of focusing on jobs, Republicans are continuing to wage their war on women with this dangerous legislation today.

This bill forces comprehensive coverage for women to be dropped from the State exchanges, cutting off millions of women from affordable, comprehensive health care. And you know that Federal funds have not been allowed for abortion since 1976--to my dismay--and nothing has changed.

This bill makes it virtually impossible for any health care plan to offer abortion coverage and allows hospitals to refuse--mind you, refuse--to provide lifesaving care to a woman who needs an abortion to protect her own life. This is unprecedented and should be rejected.

We cannot and must not allow the Republicans to turn the clock back on women, on choice, and on our access to health care. I remember the days of back alley abortions--women died, women were injured for life. Let's not go back there.

I urge my colleagues to reject this unnecessary and harmful legislation. Health care decisions should be made by women and their health care providers, not Republicans and the House of Representatives who want to impose their own ideological agenda on women. We should be creating jobs, not interfering with women's reproductive rights.

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