[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 164 (Wednesday, September 22, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H4867-H4868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HIPPOCRATIC OATH: THE CONGRESS' COLLECTIVE CONSCIENCE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, as a physician, I took the 
Hippocratic oath to first do no harm. That means caring for the sick 
and protecting those who cannot protect themselves. That means fighting 
to protect the unborn.
  Sadly, not all Members of Congress share that commitment. Right now, 
liberals in this body are attempting to repeal the Hyde amendment which 
prohibits tax dollars from funding abortions. Worse, they are 
attempting to legalize abortions on demand until the moment of birth. 
While science tells us that the unborn baby is a human life and 
deserves protection, our collective conscience should motivate us to 
protect these unborn children.
  We owe it to the American people to defend the sanctity of life. We 
owe it to

[[Page H4868]]

them to protect the most vulnerable among us. As a doctor and as a 
legislator, I will always stand for life.


                        Strong American Military

  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, as Congress prepares to 
consider the National Defense Authorization Act, our Nation continues 
to face national security threats abroad. I am proud that this 
legislation protects our military from the administration's reckless 
spending cuts that would have made Americans less safe. It also 
provides a 2.7 percent pay raise for our Nation's servicemembers and 
protects their right to personal expression.

  This bill would allow our troops to make their own choice on whether 
to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It would prohibit them from being 
dishonorably discharged for making their own healthcare decisions. 
Furthermore, this legislation would increase security on our southern 
border. It acknowledges the record number of illegal crossings which is 
truly a national security crisis.
  With the threat of global terrorism on the rise, now is not the time 
to allow our borders to be more vulnerable. President Reagan once said 
that we maintain peace through our strength and that weakness only 
invites aggression.
  Now is the time for a strong United States military. Now is the time 
for that peace through strength. And now is the time to pass the 
National Defense Authorization Act and to continue to protect each and 
every American.

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