[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 22 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 WORKING TOGETHER ON THE ABORTION ISSUE

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I just heard my colleague talk about 
information that he feels would lead people to change their view on the 
tragic issue of late-term abortion. I want to make a clear point that I 
made today to the press when they asked me about this. I think it is 
deplorable that anyone on any side of this issue would knowingly 
misstate the truth, on any side. There is no excuse for that. We can't 
resolve problems in this Nation if people don't tell the truth.
  The issue here is--and I think it is very important to state it--that 
under Roe versus Wade, which is the law of the land and has been upheld 
by the Supreme Court several times, a woman has a right to choose, 
without Government interference, in the early stages of her pregnancy. 
Now, that is a matter of debate. Some colleagues here think that is a 
very bad decision by the Court. Some colleagues here would like to 
outlaw abortion at any stage. But what Roe versus Wade said is 
postviability. Once the fetus is viable, the Government can come in and 
regulate abortion. I agree with that.
  What Roe versus Wade says is that the Government can regulate 
abortion at the postviability stage very clearly, as long as the life 
of the woman is protected and her health is protected.
  Now, Mr. President, I think we owe it to the women of this Nation to 
ensure that they do not die, and if they have a very complicated 
pregnancy, where if they were to carry the child to term, they would 
lose their life or endure severe adverse health consequences where 
perhaps they could be paralyzed for life or become infertile--we had 
women, several of whom were religious Catholics and consider themselves 
pro-life, that had to go through and endure this procedure because they 
were told either their life was at stake or they could never carry 
another child.
  So the issue isn't about how many times this procedure is used. My 
view is that even if it is used once incorrectly, it is wrong. I think 
what we ought to do is say that we should never allow an abortion in 
the late term, postviability, unless it is necessary to protect the 
life of the woman or her health. And I think that what we ought to 
start doing in this U.S. Senate is to start to come together on a 
couple of things. I don't think we are ever going to agree on the basis 
of Roe versus Wade. I think my friend from Indiana believes that 
abortion is wrong, and he is willing to outlaw it. I support Roe versus 
Wade. We have a fair disagreement. So we can't come together on that.
  I think we can come together on two issues surrounding this difficult 
issue. First, family planning. We ought to all support family planning, 
so that every child is a wanted child and so that the number of 
abortions would drop dramatically. I was so pleased to see colleagues 
on the Republican side of the aisle join with colleagues on the 
Democratic side of the aisle and make a profamily planning statement. 
We ought to come together on that, and we ought to come together on the 
issue of late-term abortion. We ought to say it should not be allowed, 
unless it is necessary to save the life of a mother or spare her 
irreparable harm.
  I really think we have an opportunity now, because this issue has 
been brought up again, to walk down the aisle together on those two 
points--family planning and on the late-term abortion issue. Consistent 
with Roe versus Wade, we can do that.
  So, Mr. President, I know we will be revisiting this issue. I will, 
once again, bring to the floor the stories of the women who had to have 
these procedures, postviability, because their life was in danger or 
they might have been infertile. I will continue to put the woman's face 
on the issue. I hope we can reach agreement, in a bipartisan way, on 
this matter and move forward so that, in essence, we can reduce the 
number of abortions in this country and that every child can be a 
healthy and a wanted child. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. DASCHLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic leader.

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