OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

An Assault on the First Amendment

Floor Speech

Date: Feb. 9, 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Women Religion

Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, those who say that conservative opposition to the Obama administration's rules on forcing religious groups to provide birth control coverage in their insurance plans is an assault on women are wrong and shortsighted. That rule is an assault on all Americans and on the First Amendment of the Constitution.

It reminds me of a famous quote attributed to Pastor Martin Niemoller:

First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak out because I was a Protestant.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Madam Speaker, we have to speak out on this issue. It is an assault on the First Amendment. It's an assault on the rights of all Americans.


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