[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H89]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONESTY AND GLOBAL GAG RULE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, by reinstituting the global 
gag rule as one of his first actions in office, President Bush quickly 
revealed how uncompassionate his conservatism will be. The gag rule 
will take money away from the world's poorest women and girls. This is 
not the action of a moderate.
  The gag rule prevents doctors from giving the best medical advice to 
patients, it stops free speech, and it limits the effectiveness of 
family planning organizations. So this gag rule is not about preventing 
taxpayer dollars from being used for abortions, no matter what the 
President's spokesman says.
  This is a significant point. Language is important. By using language 
that leads people to believe that the ban will stop taxpayer money from 
being used for abortions, the Bush administration gave a positive spin 
to a negative action. We need to call them on it. That is why many of 
us are on the floor tonight.
  This is not about taxpayer money being used for abortion. It could 
not be. No American dollars have been used for abortions since 1973. 
That is the law of this country. The gag rule is about preventing 
organizations from giving good medical advice and care to patients. It 
coerces family planning clinics, doctors and organizations into 
sacrificing their right to counsel patients or even participate in 
democratic debates in order to receive U.S. funding for voluntary 
family planning services. It will stop much needed family planning 
funding from going to the organizations that provide the services that 
prevent abortions. It forces providers to make a terrible choice, give 
up desperately needed funding for family planning services or sacrifice 
their rights and responsibilities. Either way, women lose and the 
number of abortions, particularly illegal abortions, will rise.
  The gag rule would be unconstitutional here in the United States, and 
it is unconscionable that among the first acts of the Bush 
administration was to reinstate it and impose it on the world's poorest 
women and girls. During the campaign, President Bush said that the 
United States should not appear arrogant in its foreign policy. 
Imposing limits on speech that would be unconstitutional here in the 
United States is the height of arrogance in foreign policy.
  That is not to say that all the news is bad. I was pleased to hear 
that President Bush has committed to retaining the fiscal year 2001 
funding levels for international family planning. That was a very 
welcome statement. I hope that when President Bush takes another look 
at the facts, he will recognize that his actions actually encourage the 
procedure he is trying to reduce.
  We know that family planning reduces the need for abortions. We know 
that it saves lives. The gag rule reduces the effectiveness of family 
planning organizations and should be eliminated. I urge the President 
to revoke the gag rule. I applaud my many colleagues that have joined 
me in doing so.

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