[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE ABORTION PROVISION IN THE TELECOMMUNICATION BILL

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                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 6, 1996

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the telecommunications bill has 
been signed into law. It is a bill that I supported and I am pleased to 
see this important legislation become law.
  However, I am outraged at the way in which this extreme Republican 
leadership snuck a little-known provision into the conference report. 
In the attempt to eliminate ``obscene'' material from the Internet, 
this provision included an old, outdated definition of the word 
``obscene.'' Known as the Comstock Act, it included as part of the 
definition of obscene materials ``any drug, medicine, article, or thing 
* * * intended for producing abortion.'' This obscure, never enforced 
law dates back to the early 1900's and is clearly an unconstitutional 
violation of free speech. If enforced, this outdated law would prohibit 
the discussion of abortion over the telephone, on the computer, or 
through the mail.
  The new telecommunication law makes it a felony, punishable by 5 
years for the first offense and 10 years for each subsequent offense, 
for anyone to discuss abortion on the Internet. I believe that it would 
be unconstitutional to ban citizens from speaking freely on the issue 
of abortion.
  Women's rights have continually been challenged by this Congress. 
This is just the latest attempt to silence those who advocate a woman's 
right to choose. I believe that Congress should act immediately to 
ensure that free speech is not violated by this law.
  I lived through the era before Roe versus Wade. I know what poor 
women went through in the back alleys when abortion was not legal. Any 
attempt to restrict this medical procedure is just one more way this 
Congress is throwing away a woman's right to choose.
  Mr. Speaker, It is outrageous that this extreme anti-choice movement 
would use the new telecommunications law to threaten a person's rights 
to discuss abortion. Choosing abortion is the most heartwrenching and 
personal decision a woman may ever make. But It is a decision that 
should be made between a woman, her doctor, her family, and her 
spiritual conscience. This Congress should not be meddling with our 
ability to freely discuss a woman's most personal medical decision.

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