Conscience Protection Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my colleague for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the so-called Conscience Protection Act.

Despite its name, this bill actually does the opposite. It would infringe upon the beliefs and values of women across this country, putting their bosses' wishes over their own. This is wrong. It is yet another attempt to play politics with women's health. A woman's ability to control when, how, or whether to have children is central to her conscience, to her health, to her well-being, to her economic stability; but this bill would consider a woman's wish to be secondary to that of her employer's.

Let me be personal for just a moment. I am the daughter of a minister. I grew up in a parsonage, and my father was a member of the clergy. I understand the importance of religion to the lives of so many, including to me. My faith was always a large part of what motivated me as a nurse, as a public health person, and what motivates me now as a Member of Congress. Perhaps it is because of this that I cannot stand on the sidelines when some are trying to use religion as a justification for discrimination or to take away the decisionmaking powers and responsibilities of another.

Health care and the personal decisions a woman makes are not her boss' business. It is far past time to get employers out of the exam room.

We need to trust and value women and let them make their own personal health decisions with their healthcare providers, with their family, with their faith, not politicians.

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