[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 81 (Friday, June 1, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E946-E947]
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. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 30, 2012

  Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I voted against H.R. 
3541, the Prenata Nondiscrimination Act. I am proud that as a body we 
rejected the measure, and relieved that we exposed the true intent of 
what would have been a disastrous law. The

[[Page E947]]

title of the measure was a misnomer. The proposed law did not seek to 
fight sex-based discrimination in our society, but was rather designed 
to cut down the personal rights of women.
  Let me be clear, I am opposed to sex-selection abortion based on 
gender. However, the legislation voted upon yesterday was overbroad and 
dangerous. It proposed harsh sentences for doctors and individuals that 
strive to provide support to a woman as she makes difficult decisions 
concerning her personal health. It threatened the sanctity of doctor-
patient confidentiality, and would have created an environment that 
allowed hearsay to be used as a weapon to impose Federal regulation on 
a purely personal matter.
  Let's see this bill for what it truly was. It was yet another attempt 
to undermine a woman's right to choose. It was an insidious attack on 
personal rights. We have fought hard for our rights as women, and I 
will never stand by idly as some in Congress try to destroy something 
women like me hold so dear! If this Congress was serious about taking 
up issues of discrimination it would have wasted its time on this bill. 
We should be using our precious time here to discuss is our unequal 
education system, our disproportionate access to capital, or the lack 
of basic medical care that 47 million Americans deal with daily. 
Apparently, some of us believe that discrimination only exists in the 
womb. This type of hypocrisy and two handed policy-making must stop, 
and I suggest proponents of the bill examine whether or not the measure 
goes along with the ideals of limited government that are supposed to 
drive their agenda.
  I am glad that we defeated the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act, and 
promise that I will fight to strike down any other measure of the same 
nature in the future.

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