[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 16, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. FORTENBERRY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, we are hearing about the problems 
with this health care bill, from its failure to address the real cost 
drivers, as well as its subversion of the democratic process. But 
here's another problem. The Speaker of the House, on Monday, asserted 
that the bill before us is ``about health care, health insurance 
reform. It's not about abortion.''
  Now for the reality. The bill before us would permit the Federal 
Government to provide subsidies to insurance plans that cover abortion, 
oversee State plans that cover elective abortions, and allow Federal 
officials to mandate that private plans cover abortions. It is replete 
with abortion.
  The American people have spoken, and they do not want their taxpayer 
dollars entangled in the provision of abortion. Abortion is not health 
care, and no American should be forced to pay for it.
  We should be supporting those in vulnerable circumstances. Abortion 
is so often the result of abandonment. Women deserve better. But true 
health care reform must be life-affirming. I will not support this 
bill.

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