[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 123 (Thursday, July 27, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10771-S10773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            FAMILY PLANNING

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to call 
attention to the numerous legislative efforts which are now pending 
which challenge the constitutional right of a woman to choose. And I 
have decided to do so in light of the action by the House 
Appropriations Committee last week in eliminating funding for family 
planning. It had always been my view that whatever political persuasion 
or position of political spectrum, that the issue of family planning 
was one where most Americans, if not virtually all Americans, could 
agree.
  When we talk about welfare reform--and there is no doubt about the 
necessity for welfare reform in America--we are dealing with many 
children who come into this world where the parents, many married 
couples, are not equipped to handle them at that stage of their lives 
both financially and emotionally. And the welfare payments are enormous 
when we talk about teenage pregnancy, which may be the greatest 
domestic social problem America faces today, or certainly one of the 
biggest. Society spends an estimated $34 billion on behalf of families 
in which the first 

[[Page S 10772]]
birth occurred when the mother was a teenager.
  When we look at the problem of low-birthweight babies, which 
constitutes a human tragedy when children are born the size of my hand, 
weighing as little as 12 ounces, they are human tragedies because they 
carry scars for a lifetime. Frequently those lifetimes are not very 
long, but are very expensive to society, costing in the range of 
$200,000 a child and thousands more each year. It cost society multiple 
billions of dollars, whereas family planning saves additional costs in 
medical care. I think this should be agreed upon by everyone.
  A few weeks ago, we had a contentious debate in this Chamber about 
Dr. Henry Foster, and although some may disagree, my view was that Dr. 
Foster was rejected because he had performed abortions, a medical 
procedure permitted under the Constitution of the United States.
  We now find the legislation offered by the House moving along the 
track which would deny Federal funding for a woman in a Federal prison 
who is a victim of rape. What is that woman to do if the Federal 
Government, which has her incarcerated and is in charge of her 
sustenance, prohibits funding for a child which is born to her while 
she is in prison?
  What I decided to do, Mr. President, in order to dramatize this 
situation, which I think is fairly characterized as a wholesale assault 
on a woman's right to choose--it is not what I decided to do, as the 
distinguished Presiding Officer knows, but what my staff decided to do. 
They brought me the idea.
  The line which I have submitted here on the situation where there is 
the dismantling of a woman's right to choose from A to Z is that there 
is a nationwide campaign under way to dismantle a woman's right to 
choose. Antichoice forces, frustrated by their failed attempts to 
achieve a constitutional amendment to ban choice, are urging Congress 
to impose burdensome obstacles to reproductive health services for 
women. These changes are far-reaching and will have a devastating 
impact on women's health.
  To show the scope of this effort, my staff and I have compiled the 
list of actions from A to Z by antichoice forces. This I suggest is a 
prescription for gridlock.
  There is nothing in the Contract With America on abortion. The 
results of the 1994 election, I submit, were to deal with the key 
Republican core values of reducing the size of Government, of limiting 
expenses, of reducing taxes, and not to be engaged in divisive social 
issues.
  In these charts, in a dramatic way, we have listed these issues from 
A to Z starting with:

       A. Amend the Constitution to abolish a woman's right to 
     choose.
       B. Banning Federal funding for abortions for women in 
     Federal prisons.
       C. Cutting off title X family planning funds to 
     organizations providing abortions with non-Federal dollars.
       D. To deny Federal funding for United States 
     representatives to attend the U.N. Fourth World Conference on 
     Women.
       E. Eliminate United States funding for international family 
     planning assistance provided by the United Nations Population 
     Fund.
       F. Forbid the Legal Services Corporation from handling 
     abortion-related legislation.
       G. Gag medical providers at title X family planning clinics 
     to prevent them from discussing abortions as a legal medical 
     option for women facing an unintended pregnancy.
       H. Hand over to the States the decision as to whether low-
     income rape or incest victims are eligible for Medicaid-
     funded abortions.
       I. Impose restrictions on human embryo research.
       J. Jeopardize the protections afforded by the Freedom of 
     Access to Clinic Entrance (FACE) Act.
       K. Kill nominations of pro-choice Government officials, 
     like Dr. Foster.
       L. Limiting the sale and production of RU-486.
       M. Mandate that Federal employees insurance exclude 
     abortion coverage, even where the employees pay for it for 
     themselves.
       N. Notify parents if minors seek ``sensitive'' health 
     services such as contraception at title X family planning 
     clinics.
       O. Overrule the decision of a graduate medical education 
     accrediting organization to require most OB/GYN residents to 
     be trained in abortion procedures.
       P. Promote the appointment of Federal judges opposed to 
     choice.

  On that, Mr. President, I have long opposed a litmus test and have 
supported Justice Scalia, Chief Justice Rehnquist, and Justice O'Connor 
where their views differ from mine.

       Q. Quash the ability of the District of Columbia to use its 
     own revenue to fund abortions for poor women--a right of 
     every other jurisdiction in the United States.
       R. Restrict fetal tissue research, an issue which passed 
     overwhelmingly in the Senate when some 80 Senators joined 
     together where it was shown at the hearings that the research 
     was very important for many very serious illnesses.
       S. Slashing the funding for domestic and international 
     family planning programs.
       T. Terminating funding for family planning programs that 
     either provide abortions with non-U.S. funds or advocate a 
     position on abortion.
       U. Undermining the ability of military women stationed 
     overseas to access abortion services by prohibiting military 
     hospitals from performing the procedure, even if paid for 
     with private funds.
       V. Violating the right of a doctor and patient to determine 
     whether a certain late-term abortion procedure is appropriate 
     and necessary.
       W. Whitewash the true political agenda--eliminating access 
     to abortion for all American women.
       X. X-out title X, the cornerstone of Federal family 
     planning programs.
       Y. Yielding to the antichoice agenda that rolls back the 
     reproductive rights of American women under the Constitution.
       Z. Zeroing out the tax deduction for expenses incurred for 
     pregnancy termination.

  Mr. President, I have sought to dramatize the many measures which are 
underway at the present time. I personally am very much opposed to 
abortion, but I do not think it is a matter for the Federal Government 
to regulate. I have supported abstinence programs, especially for 
teenagers, that emphasize avoiding premarital sex and have supported 
tax breaks for adoption because I think that is the proper course. But 
I do not think it is the business of the Government to regulate 
abortions. I think that our colleague, Senator Barry Goldwater, 
articulated it correctly when he said we ought to keep the Government 
off our backs--less regulation--out of our pocketbooks--lower taxes--
and out of our bedrooms--the constitutional right of the woman to 
choose.
  The conservative point of view is that the least government is the 
best government, and I would say that the constitutional protection of 
a woman on her right to choose ought to be maintained.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a card listing from A to 
Z these restrictions be included in the Congressional Record.
  There being no objection, the list was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

        Dismantling a Woman's Right To Choose . . . From A to Z

       Amend the Constitution to abolish a woman's right to 
     choose.
       Ban federal funding for abortions for women in federal 
     prisons.
       Cut off Title X family planning funds to organizations 
     providing abortions with non-federal dollars.
       Deny federal funding for United States representatives to 
     attend the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women.
       Eliminate United States funding for international family 
     planning assistance provided by the United Nations Population 
     Fund.
       Forbid the Legal Services Corporation from handling 
     abortion-related litigation.
       Gag medical providers at Title X family planning clinics to 
     prevent them from discussing abortion as a legal medical 
     option for a woman facing an unintended pregnancy.
       Hand over to the states the decision as to whether low-
     income rape or incest victims are eligible for Medicaid-
     funded abortions.
       Impose restrictions on human embryo research.
       Jeopardize the protections afforded by the Freedom of 
     Access to Clinic Entrances Act.
       Kill nominations of pro-choice government officials.
       Limit the sale and production of mifepristone (RU-486).
       Mandate that federal employees' insurance exclude abortion 
     coverage.
       Notify parents if minors seek ``sensitive'' health services 
     such as contraception at Title X family planning clinics.
       Overrule the decision of a graduate medical education 
     accrediting organization to require most ob/gyn residents to 
     be trained in abortion procedures.
       Promote the appointment of federal judges opposed to 
     choice.
       Quash the ability of the District of Columbia to use its 
     own revenue to fund abortions for poor women--a right of 
     every other jurisdiction in the United States.
       Restrict fetal tissue research.
       Slash funding for domestic and international family 
     planning programs.
       Terminate funding for international family planning 
     programs that either provide abortions with non-U.S. funds or 
     advocate a position on abortion.

[[Page S 10773]]

       Undermine the ability of military women stationed overseas 
     to access abortion services by prohibiting military hospitals 
     from performing the procedure, even if paid for with private 
     funds.
       Violate the right of a doctor and patient to determine 
     whether a certain late-term abortion procedure is appropriate 
     and necessary.
       Whitewash the true political agenda--eliminating access to 
     abortion for all American women.
       X-out Title X, the cornerstone of Federal family planning 
     programs.
       Yield to the anti-choice agenda that rolls back the hard-
     won reproductive rights of American women.
       Zero out the tax deduction for expenses incurred for 
     pregnancy termination.

  Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair and yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk called the roll.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that further 
proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The period for morning business is extended for leader time.
  Mr. DOLE. Leader time was reserved, right?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.

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