[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 160 (Monday, October 24, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                            PROTECT LIFE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 13, 2011

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 358, 
the Protect Life Act.
  Our first priorities in the House of Representatives must be helping 
to foster job creation and supporting middle class families. We are now 
280 days in this Congress without passing a jobs plan.
  Instead, the Republicans have chosen to continue their radical 
assault on reproductive health care in the guise of preventing the use 
of federal funds to pay for abortion procedures. These bills and 
amendments are as unnecessary as they are offensive. Federal law 
already prohibits the use of federal funds to pay for abortion services 
except when a woman's life is endangered or she is a victim of rape or 
incest.
  H.R. 358 would impose unprecedented limitations on comprehensive 
reproductive health services that go far beyond current law.
  The bill would force health plans to drop comprehensive coverage in 
state health insurance exchanges. The bill would allow hospitals to 
refuse to provide life-saving care to women--even if they are facing an 
imminent threat of death. Further, the provisions in this bill are so 
broad that it would allow states to prohibit access to birth control, 
including providing emergency contraception to sexual-assault 
survivors.
  This bill claims that it would protect life. But the bill could end 
the lives of women who are in need of life-saving emergency care. 
Sadly, we have all heard of the stories of women who are faced with the 
heart-wrecking decision to terminate their pregnancies when they are 
told that their baby will not survive to term. This bill will prevent 
women in that difficult situation from receiving needed health care 
services even if they are facing a life-threatening situation 
themselves.
  This bill goes farther than ever in an extreme attempt to limit 
health coverage for American women, and make a legal, constitutionally 
protected medical procedure inaccessible to women.
  Instead of debating how to put Americans back to work, we are again 
spending our time debating a bill that would result in substandard 
health care for millions of Americans.
  I strongly oppose H.R. 358 and urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on 
this dangerous piece of legislation.

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