20-Week Abortion Ban

Floor Speech

Ms. BONAMICI. Today, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1797, legislation that would throw doctors in jail for providing constitutionally protected health care. Many of my colleagues talk about less government. Well, here's a place where I agree. This bill takes away the ability of women to make their own health care decisions and attempts to replace the informed judgment of doctors with the opinions of politicians.

Often, there are unexpected complications. Danielle Deaver's amniotic fluid ruptured at 22 weeks, leaving the pregnancy without adequate fluid to continue to develop. Jennifer Peterson was pregnant when she was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Danielle, Jennifer, and women like them should be able to face these difficult situations by consulting with their doctors. They should not have to worry about whether they're violating an unconstitutional law.

When abortion is made illegal, it does not go away; it becomes unsafe. Let's not play politics with women's health care. Let's focus on prevention and making sure that women have access to safe and legal abortions. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this unconstitutional bill.

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