[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              CONFERENCE REPORT ON THE CLINIC ACCESS BILL

  Mr. DURENBERGER. Mr. President, I rise in support of the conference 
report on S. 636, the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 
1994.
  Last December, I wrote a letter to the distinguished chairman of the 
Labor Committee, Senator Kennedy, strongly urging that the conference 
committee adopt the provisions in the Senate-passed bill. In 
particular, I urged the Conference Committee to adopt the Senate's 
reduced penalties for nonviolent blockades, Senator Hatch's amendment 
protecting places of worship, and provisions that had been worked out 
among our staff relating to various concerns in the pro-life community.
  I am pleased that the House-Senate conferees adopted the substantive 
provisions of the Senate bill. I believe this conference report strikes 
an appropriate balance between preventing violent and threatening 
behavior, yet protecting rights to peacefully persuade and express 
deeply held beliefs.
  My own convictions are pro-life. But I believe that people on both 
sides of this issue can agree that violence and threats do not serve 
either cause; they only drive our Nation farther and farther apart.
  I am grateful to Senator Kennedy and to Senator Kassebaum, the 
distinguished ranking member of the Labor Committee, for their 
willingness to work with me to address concerns that were important to 
the pro-life community. We put aside our different beliefs about 
abortion to work toward the common goal of reducing the violence that 
sometimes surrounds this divisive issue.
  I hope that others with differing beliefs will learn to do the same, 
so that our Nation can debate the issues that divide us with civility 
and reason, not threats and intimidation.

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