[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 129 (Friday, August 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

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                               speech of

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, August 2, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2127) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies, for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes:

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I stand in strong support of Mr. 
Ganske's amendment; and reaffirm the traditional policy of the Congress 
toward accreditation of medical schools and teaching hospitals. I 
believe that the medical profession, itself, should establish 
responsible standards for the recognition and approval of graduate 
medical education programs.
  Further, I strongly oppose attempts by this Congress to interfere 
with the content of medical education and training standards of a 
private accrediting board. The Accreditation Council for Graduate 
Medical Education [ACGME] requirement, as currently written, allows 
individual medical residents--as well as institutions with religious or 
moral objections--to opt out of abortion training, so government 
intervention to protect individual conscience is not needed.
  To prevent abortion training altogether because of the religious 
convictions of some, is ridiculous. Surely, this Congress will not be 
allowed to stand in the way of medical science and return us to an era 
of superstition and of strict religious control.


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