[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 135 (Friday, September 18, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        H.R. 3504 AND H.R. 3134

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 18, 2015

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today I voted against H.R. 3504, which 
would limit women's health care choices and interfere in the doctor-
patient relationship, and against H.R. 3134, which would defund Planned 
Parenthood.
  It is bizarre to watch the manufactured controversy surrounding 
ambush-type, heavily-edited journalism used to discredit Planned 
Parenthood.
  It's not just the blatantly manipulative and misleading tactics that 
are being used, which should be enough for most people to reject the 
allegations on their face. These attacks do not reflect my experience 
and knowledge of the amazing, dedicated, civic-minded men and women who 
have built, supported, and led Planned Parenthood in my community.
  For decades, I have admired these pillars of community, leaders in 
education, religion, business, and other civic affairs that provided 
the vision, the volunteer effort, and personal contributions to women's 
health and reproductive freedom. There is no question that because of 
their efforts, tens of thousands of abortions never occurred in our 
community and those that did occur, did not result in harm to women.
  Because of their efforts, Oregon's 11 Planned Parenthood centers 
provided care to over 70,000 women in 2013, including over 25,000 
breast and cervical cancer screenings. Nationally, Planned Parenthood 
cares for more than 2.5 million women annually. Planned Parenthood 
centers serve a greater share of safety-net clients than any other type 
of safety-net providers. Nearly 80 percent of women using Planned 
Parenthood have incomes at or below 150 percent of poverty--these 
clinics offer affordable health care options for women who may have no 
alternate source of care.
  The fact that we are engaged in a concerted assault against the 
provision of essential services to women, especially women of color and 
low-income status is appalling. If people would take the time, as I 
have, to visit these facilities, meet the employees, and most 
importantly, know these community leaders that have made it possible to 
protect women's health, to prevent countless abortions, and to promote 
wellbeing and education, would see the lies behind this heated rhetoric 
and misguided attacks.

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