[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 172 (Thursday, November 10, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        COMMENDING DEFEAT OF INITIATIVE 26 BY MISSISSIPPI VOTERS

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                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 10, 2011

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank the voters of 
Mississippi who went to the polls on Tuesday, November 7, and 
decisively rejected Initiative 26, the so-called ``Personhood 
Amendment'' to the state's constitution. By a margin of 41 to 58 
percent, the voters of Mississippi turned back a thinly-veiled attempt 
to deprive women of their constitutionally protected freedom to make 
their own reproductive health decisions.
  No matter what your position is in the pro-choice/pro-life debate, 
the reach of Initiative 26 was so broad and its provisions so extreme 
that thousands of the most sincere, thoughtful, and committed pro-life 
activists could not in good conscience support the measure.
  Initiative 26, which was the brainchild of the anti-choice group 
Personhood USA, sought to redefine the legal definition of a ``person'' 
to include ``every human being from the moment of fertilization, 
cloning or the functional equivalent thereof.'' If the measure had 
passed and gone into effect, it would have outlawed abortion in all 
circumstances, even when the life of the mother was in imminent danger. 
And it would have put an end to stem-cell research, banned several of 
the most common forms of birth control, and restricted fertility 
treatments such as in-vitro fertilization.
  Since the Supreme Court issued its decision in Roe v. Wade in 1973, 
anti-choice activists have been relentless in their efforts to overturn 
that decision or find new ways to impede women from exercising their 
right to choose. ``Personhood'' initiatives are merely the latest 
scheme designed to turn back the clock on women's reproductive health 
rights. Proponents sought to road test their ``personhood amendment'' 
strategy in the very conservative and pro-life state of Mississippi 
before taking it national.
  Mr. Speaker, Initiative 26 was worded so broadly that even its 
backers freely admitted that it would ban some of the most common 
methods of birth control like IUDs and the birth-control and ``morning 
after'' pill. But the reach of Initiative 26 goes further than shutting 
down clinics, much further. This personhood initiative takes it too far 
by effectively criminalizing abortion without exceptions for rape, 
incest or health and life of the mother.
  Mr. Speaker, what was especially pernicious about Initiative 26 is 
that it would have outlawed the generally accepted medical practices 
used by health care professionals in situations where the life or 
health of the mother is imperiled. Saving a woman's life should be the 
first priority. If Initiative 26 were to become law, however, saving 
the life or preserving the health of the mother, by aborting the 
pregnancy if necessary, would be regarded as a criminal act.
  It should be noted also, Mr. Speaker, that Initiative 26 is so far 
reaching that it would discourage the practice of in vitro 
fertilization, if not ban it altogether. Through the years, in vitro 
fertilization has enabled millions of childless couples to experience 
the miracle of become loving parents to wanted children. It makes no 
sense for persons who profess a preference for life and family values 
to champion a measure like Initiative 26 which would outlaw in vitro 
fertilization.
  Symbolic ``personhood'' amendments cause unnecessary political rancor 
and division. They are distractions we can ill afford. We should 
instead be focusing our efforts on the real problem facing our nation 
and that is creating jobs and revitalizing our economy.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand in opposition to dangerous and 
diversionary personhood initiatives like Initiative 26. I congratulate 
the citizens of Mississippi for resoundingly rejecting Initiative 26.

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