[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 108 (Friday, July 17, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010

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                               speech of

                             HON. PAUL RYAN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3170) making 
     appropriations for financial services and general government 
     for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chair, after careful consideration of H.R. 
3170, it is with great regret that I announce my opposition to this 
bill as a result of its careless disregard for human life.
  Historically, there has been a restriction on government-funded 
abortion in Washington, DC. Language known as the Dornan Amendment, 
which prohibited both federally and locally appropriated funds from 
being used to pay for abortions, has always been adopted in prior-year 
versions of H.R. 3170. However, in a break from this longstanding 
tradition, the majority chose instead to include language that does not 
prohibit local taxpayer funding for abortion services. In effect, 
Congress is breaking with history and allowing taxpayer funded 
abortions where they were previously prohibited.
  I was extremely disappointed that H.R. 3170 included this language, 
especially since it also contains provisions that I strongly support. 
For example, I applaud bipartisan efforts to include language 
protecting the state franchise rights of GM and Chrysler auto dealers. 
Over 3,000 of these small business owners will ultimately be left 
behind as a result of the restructuring plans supported by the Obama 
Administration and recently approved in hasty federal bankruptcy court 
proceedings. Given that the rights of these auto dealers were not 
fairly represented in GM and Chrysler's bankruptcy proceedings, I 
support providing some kind of legislative remedy to these 
stakeholders.
  Unfortunately, the Majority blocked consideration of an amendment 
that would have eliminated the language allowing taxpayer funding of 
abortion services in H.R. 3170 and allowing Members to vote for the 
bill on its merits. This cynical political move forced those of us 
opposed to taxpayer-funded abortions to vote against this bill, also 
implying opposition to helping our auto dealers. Let me be clear that 
my vote against this bill in no way implies my opposition to protecting 
the rights of the auto dealers left behind in GM and Chrysler's 
bankruptcy proceedings.
  In short, I really hoped to take this opportunity to support our 
nation's auto dealers. Because H.R. 3170 effectively legalized 
taxpayer-funded abortion services, I could not support it.

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