[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E855-E856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NO TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR ABORTION ACT

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                               speech of

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 2011

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to 
H.R. 3, the ``No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.''
  The title of this bill is misleading. This is not about funding 
abortions; it's about restricting a woman's right to choose. This bill 
is not necessary--the Hyde Amendment already prohibits federal funds 
from being used for abortion. This bill also raises taxes and penalizes 
individuals and small businesses that chose health plans that include 
abortion care.
  The majority is using this bill as a tool to push the abortion debate 
into the tax code. H.R. 3 would increase taxes in order to prevent 
women from obtaining abortion care. Under the confines of the bill, 
rape victims could be subject to invasive IRS audits to

[[Page E856]]

prove that their assault qualifies for abortion care. The same 
lawmakers who campaigned on growing our economy and cutting taxes are 
now trying to impose new tax penalties on individuals who happen to 
choose a procedure that they do not agree with.
  The majority campaigned on a promise of job creation. Instead the 
majority is pushing H.R. 3 which would make it more difficult for women 
to obtain reproductive healthcare services. Judging by the number of 
this bill, it is the third highest priority for the majority. At a time 
when America is digging itself out of a recession, and nearly 14 
million people are out of work, we should not be prioritizing bills 
that limit and restrict a woman's access to health care services. We 
should be focusing on growing the economy and creating jobs. I am ready 
to get to work and move legislation that would create jobs and 
revitalize the economy, not restrict women's healthcare coverage.
  This bill is nothing more than a mean-spirited attack on women's 
healthcare. It targets women, many of whom are low-income and women of 
color, and seeks to permanently deny them coverage for a pregnancy-
related healthcare benefit. Then, under the misleading guise of 
protecting tax-payer dollars, it manipulates the tax code to advance 
the majority's ideological agenda.
  I cannot vote for a bill that punishes women for making their own 
private healthcare decisions and subjects them to government intrusion.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly oppose this bill and urge my colleagues to 
do the same.

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