[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 80 (Thursday, May 31, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PRENATAL NONDISCRIMINATION ACT (PRENDA) OF 2012

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                               speech of

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 30, 2012

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this flawed 
and dangerous bill, which attempts to use the very real issue of gender 
discrimination as a pretext to roll back women's health and basic 
reproductive rights.
  The authors of this legislation claim it is intended to fight 
discrimination against female children in America. In fact, this is 
just another thinly veiled attempt by the Majority to enact their 
ideological preferences into law, put barriers between a woman and her 
doctor, and take us back to a time when family planning opportunities 
did not exist for women.
  We have now seen a disturbing pattern from this Majority. From 
endlessly trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act to, earlier this 
month, blocking the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act 
reauthorization that passed the Senate, the Majority has continually 
worked to roll back women's health protections in America.
  It is doubly insulting for them to try it again here, while claiming 
to stand up for women. If the authors of this legislation are seriously 
concerned with gender discrimination, I strongly urge them to support 
the Paycheck Fairness Act, which helps ensure that men and women are 
paid the same for the same job.
  What they should not do is pass another ideological and 
discriminatory bill that claims to stand up for women while putting 
their health at risk. I urge my colleagues to vote no on this bill.

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