Restoring Americans' Fundamental Right

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, never before has this country marked the day that a fundamental freedom was taken from us. This Saturday, for the first time, we will.

Almost 1 year ago, the Supreme Court's shameful and unprecedented Dobbs decision stripped a constitutional right from all Americans, and the harm it triggered has only grown in the year since.

We are here to say enough is enough. Extremist Republicans around the country created this reproductive healthcare crisis against the will of the people with their out-of-touch, anti-choice agenda.

People should have the right to make decisions over their own bodies, especially healthcare decisions, not this body, nor politicians, nor Justices. That process has been now aided and enabled by Republicans in this Chamber, so it is time for some accountability right here and right now. Time to put our Speaker and the Members of his party on the record in front of their constituents. It is time, really, to restore the right to abortion.

One year after the fall of Roe, we refuse to back down from the fight for reproductive freedom.

Our bodies, our choices. That is what this, in essence, is about: freedom. We are here using every single tool at our disposal to force action on this issue.

I am proud to join with our fellow Pro-Choice Caucus leaders, our membership, Representative Diana DeGette and Representative Judy Chu, in leading this discharge petition on the Women's Health Protection Act and demanding that the Speaker let us vote.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to sign it.

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