[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 30, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E319-E320]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               WOMEN OF THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS MOVEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 29, 2022

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees 
on the Judiciary, Homeland Security, and the Budget, it is my pleasure 
to join Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher and the Pro-Choice Caucus for 
this Special Order with my colleagues, to commemorate the women who 
have been prominent figures in achieving reproductive rights.
  One of my greatest joys as a member of Congress is the opportunity to 
work on behalf of women to ensure that every voice is heard when 
discussing equality and women's rights.
  I was inspired by many of the women who led the movement for women's 
equality and reproductive rights. When I was a young woman, their 
passion and purpose were instilled within me, and their indomitable 
spirit continues to light the way.
  Before I share a few thoughts about two of the women who led the 
movement and were role models for me, I must emphasize how vital their 
lessons and their work continue to be.
  This is a critical time to discuss women's reproductive rights 
because they are under attack in many states. Women in my home state of 
Texas have been stripped of their reproductive rights due to the 
revolting abortion ban that was enacted last September.
  Restrictions on abortion disproportionately harm low-income women and 
women of color. Low-income individuals and people of color face a range 
of worse health outcomes than higher income individuals and white 
people.
  These worse outcomes are the result of higher barriers to accessing 
quality health care, higher rates of stress, poorer living and working 
conditions, and, for people of color, racial discrimination.
  People of color and low-income individuals experience the highest 
rates of unintended pregnancy, partially because of barriers to 
accessing quality family planning services and contraception, lack of 
insurance coverage, and, for racial minorities, discrimination in 
health care.
  Because of this, low-income people and people of color have higher 
rates of abortion, as abortion rates mirror rates of unintended 
pregnancy.
  But the erosion of our rights in Texas and elsewhere makes clear how 
important the movement was in the 1970s. We owe a great debt to the 
women who paved the way for the reproductive rights that many women in 
this country enjoy today.
  Shirley Anita Chisholm was a trailblazer throughout her career. In 
1968, Shirley Chisholm ran for Congress in New York's 12th district. 
With her victory, she became the first African American woman ever 
elected to the United States House of Representatives.
  Congresswoman Chisholm was a pioneer in the fight for reproductive 
rights. In a one-minute speech to the House, Congresswoman Chisholm 
explained that ``by forcing a young girl to have an unwanted child, we 
are assigning her to society's trash heap. She will be cut off from 
avenues of opportunity.''
  In her 1970 book Unbought and Unbossed, Chisholm argued that ``access 
to legal abortion was an issue of economic and racial injustice, as 
poor African-American and Hispanic women were the most likely to be 
victims of unsafe ``back alley'' abortions while wealthy white women 
were much more likely to receive abortions from licensed doctors, even 
when the procedure was still illegal.''
  Her efforts and advocacy led her to be named the honorary co-
president of the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws 
in 1969. Chisholm also co-founded the National Organization for Women, 
an organization that I hold dear to my heart.
  I believe all women must be recognized for their achievements, but 
today I would like to pay special tribute to the strength and 
resilience of my hero and mentor, Barbara Jordan.
  She was resolute and fearless in her pursuit of justice and equality.
  Barbara Jordan was a prominent public figure, civil rights advocate, 
woman's rights advocate, and leading presence in Democratic Party 
politics for four decades.
  Barbara Jordan was a ground-breaking ``national icon'': the first 
African American woman elected to the Texas Senate (1966); the first 
woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Congress (1972); and the first 
African American woman to deliver the keynote address at a Democratic 
National Convention (1976).
  I was very fortunate to have known Congresswoman Jordan, and I had 
the honor and pleasure of thanking her for laying a path for me to 
follow when I decided to seek a career in public service.
  Barbara Jordan grew up in Houston's Fifth Ward, graduated from 
Wheatley High School, and attended Texas Southern University.

[[Page E320]]

  Through the grace of God, a personal commitment to excellence, and 
hard work, she became someone who we all take pride in calling a 
Houstonian, and who is beloved nationwide.
  Congresswoman Jordan's nonstop advocacy for women's rights and 
equality helped propagate the idea that women deserve to be given equal 
rights to men, and that women need to stand up to the male-dominated 
world, and assert our own leadership.
  In a speech titled A Fundamental Right, by Congresswoman Jordan at 
the Planned Parenthood Federation of America's conference in 1990, she 
exclaimed that a ``fundamental right must not be subjected to a callous 
calculation of political winners and losers.''
  She explained that many politicians were deliberately politicizing 
the debate about the fundamental right to privacy and reproductive 
health.
  We still need leaders like Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm to 
stand up and fight on behalf of women for reproductive rights and the 
full range of reforms that would create gender equity. It is because of 
women like them that we have made it this far, but the fight is not 
over yet.
  The politicization surrounding abortion continues today and has led 
to new extremes that have eroded the progress that has been made up to 
now.
  Just this year, Oklahoma, Idaho, and South Carolina have effectively 
banned the procedure, putting thousands of women's lives at risk.
  It is a central part of our job as Members of Congress to advocate 
and fight for women. I am so honored and proud to be here today 
surrounded by so many outstanding and dedicated women who are dedicated 
to this cause.
  I will continue to fight for reproductive rights for all women and 
gender equity for women everywhere.

                          ____________________