Providing for Consideration of H.R. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, Providing for Consideration of H.R. Right to Contraception Act; Providing for Consideration of H.R. Respect for Marriage Act, and for Other Purposes; and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for handling the rule and highlighting this very important issue.

As he said, if the previous question is defeated, then Republicans will amend the rule to immediately consider H. Res. 1233. That is the resolution that condemns the spate of attacks that have recently occurred against pro-life facilities, groups, and churches in the wake of the Dobbs opinion.

Madam Speaker, these acts are reprehensible, but we shouldn't be surprised they are occurring all across the country. They have gone unchecked for far too long, ever since the draft Dobbs opinion was inexcusably leaked to the public in that unprecedented act.

Republicans immediately condemned that leak as a threat to the institution of the Court itself, as a threat to the Justices themselves as individuals, and as a threat to our very Republic. The Democrat leadership of this body did nothing.

Weeks went by as tensions grew. Protesters harassed sitting Supreme Court Justices, a clear violation of the black-letter Federal Law. Republicans filed a resolution condemning those acts. The Democrat leadership of this body did nothing even as threats continued to pour in against the Justices and their families.

The Senate acted. They unanimously passed legislation to extend security to the families of the Justices. I and many of my colleagues repeatedly called upon the Speaker of this House to bring this resolution to the floor so we could pass it here and send it to the President's desk. But do you know what we got, Madam Speaker? Nothing.

It was only when an attempt was actually made on the life of Justice Kavanaugh that the Speaker finally gave in. She finally brought that legislation to the floor so that we could push back against the angry mobs.

Madam Speaker, the leadership of this body has another opportunity before them today to, once again, push back against the mob. This has gotten out of hand.

Radical leftists were emboldened by the inaction of this body and the aftermath of a leaked opinion, and now they have targeted their violence against the very groups that care for women and their unborn children in their most vulnerable moments. It is unconscionable.

Here is a short list of some examples.

May 3, 2022: Individuals vandalized the Care Net Pregnancy Center in Frederick, Maryland, with pro-abortion graffiti, including the messages ``not real clinic,'' ``end forced motherhood,'' and go to Planned Parenthood instead.

May 5, 2022: Portland, Oregon, vandals smashed numerous windows and spray-painted graffiti on the Southeast Portland Pregnancy Resource Center.

May 7, 2022: Activists vandalized a crisis pregnancy center in Denton, Texas, with the radical pro-abortion messages ``not a clinic'' and ``forced birth is murder.''

May 7, 2022: In Fort Collins, Colorado, activists painted ``my body, my choice'' on the doors of a Catholic parish.

May 8, 2022, Mother's Day: Individuals attempted to break into the Oregon Right to Life office in Keizer, Oregon, reportedly igniting and throwing two Molotov cocktails at the building.

May 8, 2022: Vandals spray-painted pro-abortion messages such as ``abortion is a right,'' ``fake clinic,'' and ``liars'' on the side of a pro-life pregnancy center in Manassas, Virginia.

May 8, 2022: A pro-life nonprofit center in Madison, Wisconsin, was set ablaze and vandalized with the words ``if abortions aren't safe, then you aren't either.''

May 13, 2022: Activists left threatening messages on the front of the Alpha Pregnancy Center in Reisterstown, Maryland, including the messages ``if abortions aren't safe, neither are you,'' ``you're anti- choice, not pro-life,'' et cetera.

May 18, 2022: Vandals targeted a women's faith-based medical clinic in Auburn, Alabama, defacing the clinic's sign and staff members' vehicles.

May 25, 2022: In Lynnwood, Washington, anti-life activists smashed windows and vandalized the Next Step Pregnancy Center with the threat: ``If abortion isn't safe, you aren't either.''

June 2, 2022: Jane's Revenge claimed credit for an attack in which its members broke windows and scrawled messages, including ``God loves abortion'' and ``fake clinic,'' at Agape Pregnancy Resource Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

June 3, 2022: Capitol Hill Crisis Pregnancy Center here in Washington, D.C., was the target of leftwing abortion extremists who threw red paint on the door, threw eggs at the window, and spray- painted the window with ``Jane Says Revenge.''

I have pages and pages of these. I don't think I need to belabor the point. It is every day now. It is out of control.

I am going to tell you, Madam Speaker, that this last one, July 11, on the list here, activists vandalized the Women's New Life Clinic in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by spray-painting anti-life messages and ``Jane's Revenge'' on the exterior walls.

That last one is personal to me. The Women's New Life Clinic stands right next to the abortion provider in Baton Rouge and has offered hope to countless women over the years. Women's New Life Clinic is doing extraordinary work. I am proud to call many of the leaders of that clinic personal friends. They do not deserve the treatment that they have endured, but they certainly deserve the support of the House of Representatives in condemning violence from the radical left.

America's pregnancy care centers provide absolutely essential services in all 50 States. There are 2,700 of these pregnancy centers. They serve millions of women every year. They are supported by over 10,000 medical professionals. I used to serve as legal counsel to a number of these groups, so I am telling you this from personal experience.

Madam Speaker, I can go on all day with these examples. I will spare you. I would assume that you recognize the obvious.

When will this body stand up against the mob? When will we restore law and order?

Chuck Schumer stood on the steps of the Supreme Court itself and infamously called out Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch by name and said that we would release the whirlwind. Well, here it is. This shouldn't surprise us.

Madam Speaker, our side is ready to act. We are ready to do something. We have an obligation and responsibility to do it.

Madam Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question.

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