[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 118 (Friday, August 3, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1421]
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. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 31, 2012

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, as a society we must work to ensure that 
lives of those who are unable to protect themselves are safeguarded; 
however elected leaders also have an obligation to ensure that laws 
which are passed, especially at the national level, allow for public 
input by the people they affect.
  I strongly agree with the underlying intent of H.R. 3803, the 
District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, to 
prevent the termination of lives of the most vulnerable in our 
society--that of unborn children. H.R. 3803 would prohibit abortions 
after 20 weeks of pregnancy, except when an acute physical condition 
endangers the life of the mother. The bill further requires that any 
termination of pregnancy be done in a manner that provides the best 
conditions for the unborn child to survive.
  I am, however, concerned with the process used to develop and 
publicly debate the bill. Further, I am concerned about the impact it 
has on home rule for the District of Columbia. Congress has delegated 
much authority to the D.C. government to establish policies that 
reflect the needs of those who live here. But H.R. 3803, which only 
affects Washington, D.C., would implement this abortion ban without the 
input of D.C. residents and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton who 
represents the people of the District of Columbia in the United States 
Congress.
  I believe that the United States should enact strong policies that 
recognize and protect the sanctity of human life. However if Congress 
wants to make meaningful progress to achieve this, legislation should 
consider the views of those impacted by the legislation and not ignore 
their points of view or concerns.

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