[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 175 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S8381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 327--CONDEMNING VIOLENCE THAT TARGETS HEALTHCARE FOR 
                                 WOMEN

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Baldwin, 
Mr. Warner, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Markey, Mr. Udall, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Schatz, 
Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Franken, Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Cardin, Ms. Warren, Mr. Reed of Rhode Island, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Menendez, 
Mrs. Murray, Mr. Coons, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Booker, 
Mr. Durbin, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Schumer, Ms. 
Cantwell, Mr. Brown, Mr. Carper, Mr. King, Mr. Tester, Ms. Klobuchar, 
and Mrs. McCaskill) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 327

       Whereas the constitutional right of the people of the 
     United States to make healthcare decisions about their own 
     bodies was established more than 43 years ago;
       Whereas in Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972), the 
     Supreme Court confirmed the constitutional right of all men 
     and women to legally access birth control;
       Whereas the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 
     (1973) 42 years ago and reaffirmed that women have a 
     constitutional right to comprehensive reproductive 
     healthcare;
       Whereas for decades, healthcare providers for women and 
     people who access healthcare services for women have been 
     subjected to intimidation, threats, and violence;
       Whereas since 1993, there have been 11 murders and numerous 
     attempted murders of individuals associated with care 
     provided at health centers for women;
       Whereas since 1977--
       (1) nearly 7,000 violent acts have been reported against 
     providers at health centers for women, including bombings, 
     arsons, death threats, kidnappings, and assaults; and
       (2) more than 190,000 acts of disruption, including bomb 
     threats and harassing calls, have been reported;

       Whereas between June and December 2015, arson, vandalism, 
     and threats have increased at Planned Parenthood health 
     centers and other health centers for women, including--
       (1) health centers in--
          (A) Aurora, Illinois;
          (B) Pullman, Washington;
          (C) Louisville, Kentucky; and
          (D) Claremont, New Hampshire; and
       (2) on November 27, 2015, an attack by a gunman at a 
     Planned Parenthood health center in Colorado Springs, 
     Colorado, in which 3 people were killed and 9 people were 
     injured;

       Whereas extreme and demonizing rhetoric contributes to a 
     climate that is dangerous for individuals who provide or 
     access comprehensive healthcare services;
       Whereas since more than 40 percent of the patients of 
     Planned Parenthood are people of color, people of color are 
     disproportionately impacted by attacks on health centers for 
     women; and
       Whereas over their lifetimes, 1 in 5 women in the United 
     States will access healthcare at Planned Parenthood, which--
       (1) in 2013 provided--
          (A) over 1,400,000 emergency contraception kits;
          (B) nearly 4,500,000 tests and treatments for sexually 
     transmitted infections; and
          (C) nearly 900,000 cervical cancer screenings and breast 
     exams;
       (2) continues to be the leading reproductive healthcare 
     provider in the United States; and
       (3) along with many other reproductive health providers, 
     continues to provide expert, quality reproductive healthcare 
     in safe and supportive environments across the country: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) denounces the attacks on healthcare centers for women, 
     providers of healthcare for women, and patients; and
       (2) affirms that all women have the right to access 
     reproductive healthcare services without fear of violence, 
     intimidation, or harassment.

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