[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PAIN-CAPABLE UNBORN CHILD PROTECTION ACT

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                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2015

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in 
opposition to H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. 
This legislation is yet another attempt by conservative lawmakers to 
dictate a woman's reproductive rights. This bill calls for a nationwide 
ban on abortion care after 20 weeks of pregnancy. There are 14 similar 
bans in states.
  The bill also makes it much more difficult for sexual assault 
survivors to obtain abortion care by requiring that she obtain 
counseling or medical treatment from a list of specific locations. This 
counseling may not be from a health center that provides abortion care. 
The bill also requires incest survivors who are minors to provide 
written proof that the crime was reported to law enforcement or the 
government. This is extremely limiting and an unreasonable burden to 
place upon a sexual assault survivor.
  The legislation also forces abortion providers to divulge private 
health information regarding which patients have received abortion care 
after 20 weeks to the government. This essentially creates a ``hit 
list'' of providers around the country for anti-choice supporters to 
target when they are merely providing legal and necessary care.
  While the right to choose is of the utmost importance, this bill 
would also add unnecessary pain and suffering to women who experience 
fatal fetal anomalies late in pregnancy. It is callous and 
uncompassionate to deny an abortion to a pregnant woman who knows that 
her child has no chance of survival.
  Banning abortion care based on arbitrary gestational limits decided 
by federal lawmakers is unconstitutional and unjust. This legislation 
is extreme and blocks a woman's access to safe health care options such 
as the freedom to make personal reproductive decisions.

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