[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 88 (Monday, June 14, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING DR. GEORGE TILLER

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 14, 2010

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of 
Dr. George Tiller, a brave and prominent physician who dedicated his 
life to providing women the ability to choose. Dr. Tiller was shot and 
killed while serving as an usher at his church in Wichita, Kansas, a 
year ago this past May. His story is tragic but he is not the only one 
who has been targeted by intimidation tactics and acts of violence.
  Since 1993, eight clinic workers have been murdered in the United 
States and seventeen attempted murders have occurred since 1991. 
Opponents of the women's right to choose have directed more than 6,100 
reported acts of violence against physicians since 1977, which does not 
include the 156,000 reported bomb threats and harassing phone calls.
  Whether you are on the right or left side of the isle on this issue, 
I believe we can all come together and agree that violence as a 
solution is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We should be able 
to work in unison to find common ground on the issue of female 
reproductive rights without putting anyone's life in danger.
  The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act was enacted in 1994 to 
provide federal protection against the unlawful and often violent 
tactics used by opponents of abortion rights. While violence has 
declined since then, violence at reproductive-health centers and 
abortion clinics is far from being eradicated.
  Dr. Tiller was respecting the women's right to choose and for that, 
his life was taken. We must all work to ensure that no more lives are 
destroyed and acts of harassment are stopped. If there is one thing we 
can all agree on, it is that violence is not the answer and I look 
forward to the day that all doctors and clinical workers can go to 
work, free from fear of violence.

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