[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 78 (Wednesday, May 20, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                H.R. 36

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 20, 2015

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to 
H.R. 36. This bill would ban abortions after 20 weeks without an 
adequate exception to protect a woman's health--a violation of Roe V. 
Wade--and would impose unreasonable burdens on rape and incest 
survivors. The legislation is the latest attack by House Republicans on 
women's health, and what's even more insulting is that they brought it 
to the floor during Women's Health Week.
  H.R. 36 would deny a woman the right to an abortion even if she is 
experiencing serious medical complications from pregnancy, or her 
physician is unable to diagnose her fetus with severe and lethal 
anomalies until after 20 weeks. These anomalies frequently lead to 
fetal death before or shortly after birth. Moreover, by imposing 
criminal penalties on physicians who provide abortion care, the bill 
would eventually lead to the deterioration of the critical patient-
doctor relationship.
  As you know, Republicans pulled an earlier version of this after a 
clash in their caucus over the exception for adult rape survivors which 
would require women to report the crime to law enforcement before they 
could get an abortion. That language has been modified to require rape 
survivors to seek and provide documentation of medical treatment or 
counseling 48 hours prior to an abortion. The bill also includes unfair 
reporting and documentation requirements for minors who have survived 
rape and incest. Without a doubt these barriers are deliberately 
designed to restrict a women's right to choose.
  I'm pleased to see a range of organizations voice strong opposition 
to this bill including the American College of Obstetricians and 
Gynecologists, American Nurses Association, American Public Health 
Association, NARAL Pro-Choice American, Planned Parenthood Federation 
of America, National Organization for Women, National Women's Law 
Center, National Council of Jewish Women, and others.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand up for women's health and 
oppose this bill.

                          ____________________