Providing for Consideration of H.R. 3134, Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015; Providing for Consideration of H.R. 3504, Born-alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act; And for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the rule and the underlying bills. This closed rule makes in order misguided legislation that would seriously limit access to crucial healthcare services, like cancer screenings, and limit access to contraception that would prevent unwanted pregnancies.

We are talking about defunding Planned Parenthood? How counterproductive. In my home State of Oregon, more than 72,000 patients were served by Planned Parenthood in 2013 alone. We are talking about real women and men who received compassionate, preventive care. I have heard from Oregonians like Stacy, who went to Planned Parenthood and got a lifesaving cancer screening when she had no insurance.

It is unfortunate that the House is using its limited time to debate legislation that harms women, but it is downright irresponsible to even consider shutting down the government over access to these vital services. There is no evidence that Planned Parenthood has broken any laws.

We have seen proposals like this before. It is time to end these attacks on women's constitutional reproductive rights. I urge my colleagues to reject this rule and other legislation that limits access to vital healthcare services.

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