[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CONSCIENCE PROTECTION ACT OF 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2016

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the so-
called Conscience Protection Act, S. 304, which is simply another 
unacceptable attack on women's reproductive health.
  The sole purpose of this bill is to deny access and create additional 
barriers for women seeking safe and constitutionally protected medical 
procedures. After relentless attempts in this Congress and in the 
courts to curtail a women's right to choose, this bill is yet another 
measure designed to make it harder for women to get medical information 
critical to their health and safety.
  This bill bypassed regular order and was rushed to the House floor 
days before Republican leadership plans to leave town for seven weeks. 
Yet, House Republicans are refusing to vote on--or adequately fund 
responses to--the many crises that endanger our public's health, from 
the Zika virus to gun violence to the epidemic of opioid addiction. 
Instead, House Republicans are choosing to vote on this bill to limit a 
woman's right to choose--the 13th vote in this Congress that undermines 
a woman's ability to make informed decisions about her own personal 
health and family.
  I strongly oppose this bill and urge my colleagues to vote no.

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