This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on one of the most awful pieces of legislation in recent memory. The bill is S.1696, the so-called Women’s Health Protection Act. At a time where we have seen the horrible results of government’s special treatment of abortion clinics, an extremely radical faction of the Democratic Party is pushing for legislation that will undo all legislation upholding reasonable standards for abortion clinics in order to protect women’s health. They would even outlaw any law prohibiting aborting a baby because of his or her gender or race! S.1696, the Women’s Health Protection Act would allow “doctors,” like Kermit Gosnell, to continue to operate in the shadows, with little oversight. We simply cannot allow this radical piece of legislation to go unnoticed.
Thankfully we had some amazing women standing up for truth and common sense today. First, here is the passionate testimony of Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee):
The Women’s Health Protection Act is an extraordinarily broad, blunt instrument that through its ranging words would substitute the special interests of the abortion industry for both the well-being of women and the value of human life.
Click here for Rep. Blackburn’s written testimony.
Second, Rep. Diane Black (R-Tennessee):
After the horrific case of abortionist Kermit Gosnell, Americans know that even though abortion is legal, these procedures are not safe.
Click here for Rep. Black’s written testimony.
Others who stood up for life, reason and common sense today, included:
Monique V. Chireau, MD, MPH, FACOG, Assistant Professor in the Division of Clinical and Epidemiological Research in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Duke University Medical Center. In her testimony, Dr. Chireau said, “S.1696 could be reasonably interpreted to invalidate virtually any type of current state laws which place restrictions or regulations on abortion. It would also endanger healthcare providers’ freedom of conscience.”
And Carol Tobias, President of National Right to Life Committee, who pointed out:
In nations in which sex-selection abortion is widespread, and in certain communities in the United States in which it is also practiced, the targets are usually unborn females. It is curious that some of those who readily mouth polemic about a “war on women” also oppose both national and state legislation to curb this practice, as we saw in 2012 when the House of Representatives debated and gave strong majority support to the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act.
Lastly, we simply cannot overlook those who are sponsoring this horrible piece of legislation, showing little regard for women’s safety, not to mention a complete contempt for the unborn and every concerned pro-life American. Here is the list of sponsors:
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut)
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin)
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-California)
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii)
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island)
Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vermont)
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-New York)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington)
Sen. Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-New York)
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington)
Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D- Connecticut)
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D- Massachusetts)
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Montana)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey)
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico)
Sen. Christopher A. Coons (D-Delaware)
Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts)
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon)
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire)
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Maryland)
Sen. Cory A. Booker (D-New Jersey)
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D- Michigan)
Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon)
Sen. Al Franken (D-Minnesota)
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota)
Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Maryland)
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri)
Sen. Mark Begich (D-Arkansas)
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Montana)
Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Illinois)
Sen. John E. Walsh (D-Montana)
Sen. Carl Levin (D- Michigan)
All senators need to hear from you, but especially those in this list who are putting women’s health at risk to placate pro-abortion special interest groups. Even if you consider yourself “pro-choice,” I hope you can agree that this legislation is simply too extreme. You can make your voice heard by calling your senators at the capitol switchboard (202)224-3121.