[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 1, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PAIN-CAPABLE UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT

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                               speech of

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 31, 2012

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, the majority claims that there is no war on 
women, but here is yet another example of their attempt to restrict 
women's access to reproductive health care. H.R. 3803 is quite simply 
another attempt by anti-choice Republicans to reverse the freedoms 
women have gained over the last several decades regarding reproductive 
choice in health care.
  Once again, the majority has sought to restrict women's access to 
reproductive healthcare by threatening doctors with prison (two years) 
and other penalties if they perform abortions after 20 weeks. With 
doctors fearful of yet even more restrictions to their practice, many 
will simply refuse to treat women who want to obtain a safe and legal 
abortion, thus achieving the majority's intended goal.
  Unbelievably, this bill also allows the woman who obtains the 
abortion, the father, or the maternal grandparents to press civil 
charges against the doctor! In addition, there are no exceptions to 
this ban for rape, incest, fetal anomaly, or a woman's health, and with 
only a narrow exception for a woman's life. This bill also uses the 
term ``unborn child'' which is a very slippery slope.
  The fact that H.R. 3803 is blatantly unconstitutional has been over-
looked by the majority. It clearly violates two Supreme Court decisions 
regarding pre-viability and exceptions for a woman's life and health.
  There can be no doubt about the national implications of a bill with 
D.C.'s name on it as a cover for attacking the reproductive rights of 
the Nation's women. The citizen's of the District of Columbia are being 
unfairly attacked. It is absolutely shameful that the sponsors of this 
legislation are trying to impose their will on the women of D.C. 
because they know for a fact they could not pass this policy at the 
national level.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3803 is just another attempt by the majority to 
wage a war upon women--unfortunately, this time it is directed at 
residents of the District of Columbia.

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