Congresswoman Suzan DelBene released the following statement after the House Judiciary Committee passed a bill today that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, even in cases of rape, incest or when the pregnancy threatens the health of the woman. During today's committee mark-up, DelBene co-sponsored an amendment to help ensure that women's health and medical safety are not disregarded in this conversation. The amendment included the constitutionally-required exception to the ban where necessary to protect women's health, reaffirming the basic premise of Roe v. Wade and longstanding, Supreme Court precedent regarding access to safe and legal abortion. Unfortunately this amendment was rejected on a party-line vote and this dangerous legislation now moves to the floor of the House for a vote next week:
"I'm deeply frustrated and disappointed by the Judiciary Committee's actions today to report out of committee unconscionable and unconstitutional legislation that would endanger women by limiting their access to abortion - even for victims of rape and incest, or in cases where a pregnancy threatens a woman's health.
"It's incredibly telling that none of the women Members of the Committee supported this bill, and that the Judiciary subcommittee that held a hearing on this bill last month does not include a single female Member. I oppose this bill because it disregards women's health, their medical safety and ignores the needs of victims of rape and incest.
"In an attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade and longstanding Supreme Court precedent, this bill unilaterally takes away a woman's ability to make what is a deeply personal decision. These health care decisions should be left to a woman and her family in consultation with her doctor and not by politicians. This bill represents another deeply divisive and political attack on women's health that should be rejected.
"There are many other pressing priorities that the Judiciary Committee should be taking up instead, such as passing comprehensive immigration reform, updating our online privacy laws, and helping our small businesses by taking up the Senate-passed Marketplace Fairness Act.
"Politicians have no business interfering with a woman's personal medical decisions, and as this deeply flawed bill now moves to the House floor, I will be working with my colleagues to actively oppose it."