[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 22 (Thursday, February 9, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H644]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0910
                   AN ASSAULT ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT

  (Ms. FOXX asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. FOXX. Madam Speaker, those who say that conservative opposition 
to the Obama administration's rules on forcing religious groups to 
provide birth control coverage in their insurance plans is an assault 
on women are wrong and shortsighted. That rule is an assault on all 
Americans and on the First Amendment of the Constitution.
  It reminds me of a famous quote attributed to Pastor Martin 
Niemoller:

       First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak out 
     because I wasn't a Communist.
       Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak 
     out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
       Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because 
     I wasn't a Jew.
       Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak out 
     because I was a Protestant.
       Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak 
     out for me.

  Madam Speaker, we have to speak out on this issue. It is an assault 
on the First Amendment. It's an assault on the rights of all Americans.

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