[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 192 (Wednesday, December 5, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7317-S7318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and 
were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-309. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of 
     New Jersey urging the United States Congress and the 
     President of the United States to take certain actions to 
     ensure that a woman can freely make reproductive health 
     decisions and access reproductive health care, including 
     abortion; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions.

                        Senate Resolution No. 96

       Whereas, Reproductive health is a critical component of a 
     woman's overall health, and a woman's freedom to make 
     reproductive decisions is vital to her safety, well-being, 
     economic opportunity, and ability to participate equally in 
     society; and
       Whereas, Abortion is a part of women's health care; and
       Whereas, In 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States 
     determined, in the landmark case of Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 
     (1973), that a woman's decision to have an abortion is 
     protected by the U.S. Constitution; and
       Whereas, In 1992, and again in 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court 
     upheld the right of women to access an abortion without undue 
     burden; and
       Whereas, More than 70 percent of Americans, including a 
     majority of individuals from all major political parties, 
     support access to abortion; and
       Whereas, When it comes to the most important personal 
     decisions in life, such as whether and when to become a 
     parent, it is vital that a woman be able to make that 
     decision for herself, based on what is best for her and her 
     family, and it is further essential that the woman be 
     provided with equal access to abortion and other reproductive 
     health care, regardless of where she lives, how much money 
     she makes, or her insurance or immigration status; and
       Whereas, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who has recently been 
     nominated for a post on the U.S. Supreme Court, has a history 
     of ruling to impose and uphold limits on a woman's ability to 
     access safe and legal abortion, and his potential appointment 
     to the Supreme Court therefore poses a serious threat to 
     women's reproductive rights; and
       Whereas, The protections affirmed by the Supreme Court in 
     the landmark Roe v. Wade case, and in subsequent cases, are 
     now at risk, and the future of access to safe and legal 
     reproductive health care, including abortion, is on the line; 
     and
       Whereas, As a state, New Jersey has made great strides in 
     supporting women's health care by restoring funding for 
     family planning services, and ensuring Medicaid coverage for 
     reproductive health care, including abortion; and
       Whereas, New Jersey supports women's rights and women's 
     health by facilitating full access to all reproductive health 
     care, including abortion, and the State is opposed to federal 
     measures or initiatives that will reduce women's rights or 
     endanger women's health, in this regard, including the 
     imposition of restrictions on insurance coverage for 
     abortion, and the appointment of judges who are likely to 
     impose limits on women's rights and their access to 
     reproductive health care: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
       1. This House respectfully opposes efforts by the federal 
     government to restrict or limit a woman's right and ability 
     to access the full range of reproductive services, including 
     abortion.
       2. This House respectfully opposes any nominee to the 
     United States Supreme Court who is not committed to upholding 
     a woman's right to reproductive health care, including 
     equitable access to abortion.
       3. This House respectfully calls upon the Congress and 
     President of the United States to reject or revoke the 
     nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh and any other Supreme 
     Court nominee who would move to limit the rights of women to 
     access the full panoply of reproductive services, including 
     abortion.
       4. This House further urges the Congress and President of 
     the United States to remove any existing restrictions on 
     access to abortion, including restrictions on insurance 
     coverage for women who are enrolled in public insurance 
     programs.
       5. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary 
     of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate 
     to the President and Vice President of the United States, the 
     Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, 
     the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of 
     Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from 
     this State.

             Senate Amendments to Senate Resolution No. 96

     Replace preamble to read:
       Whereas, Reproductive health is a critical component of a 
     woman's overall health, and a woman's freedom to make 
     reproductive decisions is vital to her safety, well-being, 
     economic opportunity, and ability to participate equally in 
     society; and

[[Page S7318]]

       Whereas, Abortion is a part of women's health care; and
       Whereas, In 1973, the Supreme Court of the United States 
     determined, in the landmark case of Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 
     (1973), that a woman's decision to have an abortion is 
     protected by the U.S. Constitution; and
       Whereas, In 1992, and again in 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court 
     upheld the right of women to access an abortion without undue 
     burden; and
       Whereas, More than 70 percent of Americans, including a 
     majority of individuals from all major political parties, 
     support access to abortion; and
       Whereas, When it comes to the most important personal 
     decisions in life, such as whether and when to become a 
     parent, it is vital that a woman be able to make that 
     decision for herself, based on what is best for her and her 
     family, and it is further essential that the woman be 
     provided with equal access to abortion and other reproductive 
     health care, regardless of where she lives, how much money 
     she makes, or her insurance or immigration status; and
       Whereas, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who has recently been 
     [nominated for a post on] appointed to the U.S. Supreme 
     Court, has a history of ruling to impose and uphold limits on 
     a woman's ability to access safe and legal abortion, and his 
     [potential] appointment to the Supreme Court therefore hoses 
     a serious threat to women's reproductive rights; and
       Whereas, The protections affirmed by the Supreme Court in 
     the landmark Roe v. Wade case, and in subsequent cases, are 
     now at risk, and the future of access to safe and legal 
     reproductive health care, including abortion, is on the line; 
     and
       Whereas, Twenty states are poised to ban abortion if Roe v 
     Wade is overturned, which would result in over 25 million 
     women of reproductive age--more than a third of women of 
     reproductive age in America--losing access to safe, legal 
     abortion in their home states; and
       Whereas, As a state, New Jersey has made great strides in 
     supporting women's health care by restoring funding for 
     family planning services, and ensuring Medicaid coverage for 
     reproductive health care [, including abortion]; and
       Whereas, New Jersey supports women's rights and women's 
     health by facilitating full access to all reproductive health 
     care, [including abortion,] and the State is opposed to 
     federal measures or initiatives that will reduce women's 
     rights or endanger women's health, in this regard, including 
     the imposition of restrictions on insurance coverage for 
     abortion, and the appointment of judges who are likely to 
     impose limits on women's rights and their access to 
     reproductive health care; and
       Whereas, New Jersey is already a leader on access to 
     reproductive health care, and will work to continue to be 
     such a leader, in support of both New Jersey women and women 
     in the 20 states across the country who are poised to lose 
     access to abortion care:, now, therefore,
     Replace Section 1 to read:
       1. This House respectfully opposes efforts by the federal 
     government to restrict [or limit] a woman's right and ability 
     to access the full range of reproductive services, including 
     abortion.
     Insert new Section 2 to read:
       2. This House affirms our commitment to the protection of 
     reproductive health care services, including abortion, in New 
     Jersey, and will commit to ensure that access to this care 
     does not depend on a person's income, zip code, or 
     immigration status.
     Replace section 2 to read:
       [2.] 3. This House respectfully opposes any future nominee 
     to the United States Supreme Court or any other court who is 
     not committed to upholding a woman's right to reproductive 
     health care, including equitable access to abortion, and it 
     respectfully calls upon the United States Congress to reject 
     any future judicial nominees who would move to limit the 
     rights of women.
     Omit Section 3 in its entirety
     Replace Section 4 to read:
       This House further urges the Congress and President of the 
     United States to remove [any existing restrictions on access 
     to abortion, including] restrictions on insurance coverage 
     for women who are enrolled in public insurance programs.
                                  ____

       POM-310. A petition from a citizen of the State of Texas 
     relative to the length of a regular term for United States 
     Senators; to the Committee on the Judiciary.

                          ____________________