Protect Children's Innocence Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I join many of our colleagues in opposing this hateful and harmful legislation. This is a devastating moment for transgender youth, their parents, and their healthcare providers across the country.

The so-called Protect Children's Innocence Act is a blatant attack on the rights of parents. It allows the government to interfere with very personal healthcare decisions.

My Republican colleagues have spent years touting parental rights, yet now they want to put moms and dads and doctors in prison for deciding how to best support their own children. It is dangerous, and it is wrong. These decisions belong to parents, their children, and their healthcare providers, not politicians.

Every parent wants what is best for their children. As a parent, I cannot imagine how I would feel if a doctor told me that Republicans in Congress banned lifesaving, evidence-based care that would help my child.

Medical care for transgender youth is safe, effective, and supported by major medical associations. Access to transgender-related healthcare is critical, medically necessary, and often lifesaving.

The President and my Republican colleagues have spent the year scapegoating a very small group of very vulnerable children because they have no solution to strengthen the economy, reduce healthcare costs, or make our communities safer. This legislation is just the latest attack.

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Ms. BONAMICI. As I close, Madam Speaker, I find it disturbing that my-- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has again expired.

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Ms. BONAMICI. I find it disturbing and disappointing that my colleagues seem to be more obsessed with what genitals are in people's pants than whether they can afford their healthcare or housing bills.

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