[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 125 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ABORTION NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT OF 2002

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                               speech of

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 2002

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill.
  I support the right of an individual to follow his or her conscience 
and personally refuse to participate in abortion services, and if that 
was what this bill was about, I would be voting for it today.
  Current law already allows health providers to refrain from providing 
any service to which they object. This bill goes too far by allowing 
insurance companies or HMOs to opt out of any reproductive services for 
any reason--not necessarily a religious or moral objection. It would 
even allow states to refuse to provide currently available abortion 
services to Medicaid beneficiaries who are victims of rape or incest or 
when the mother's life is in danger.
  Most critically, this legislation bans the provision of information. 
People have many different opinions and beliefs about abortion. I 
believe women should be able to make their own decisions on this very 
personal matter. This bill goes too far by allowing restrictions on 
abortion information, counseling and referrals. Under this bill, 
emergency room physicians could be gagged from telling rape victims 
about emergency contraception. Even Title X clinics, which are funded 
by the federal government with the purpose of allowing women to make an 
informed choice from every available option, could be gagged if this 
legislation were to be signed into law.
  Restricting information and choices is not the way to reduce the 
number of abortions in America. I challenge my colleagues today to 
reject election-year politics and work with me toward policies that 
prevent unintended pregnancies, improve reproductive health, and 
strongly encourage adoption.

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