[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 11, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                     Women's Health Protection Act

  Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of keeping Roe v. Wade, the 
legislation that the Senate failed to pass earlier today. I will enter 
my remarks in the Record. I just want to highlight a couple of things 
that we don't want Mitch McConnell, we don't want Governor DeWine in my 
State making personal health decisions for Ohio.
  I want Ohio women to make those decisions. I certainly don't want the 
State legislature in my State making those decisions, when these 
decisions are the most personal decision that a woman and perhaps her 
religious counselor, perhaps her doctor--her doctor and her partner 
should be making those decisions.
  Men often don't understand how women's bodies work and how preventive 
care like birth control works. This is not just about Roe. This ruling 
would open the door to all kinds of other government interference into 
people's most personal, private decisions.
  I would--and I have seen--a State legislator in Ohio said if a woman 
is raped and gets pregnant, there is an opportunity for that woman. 
That was said by sort of a typical far-right legislator in Ohio, and 
she is one of the leaders in the next step--what they are going to do 
on issues of women's health in my State legislature. It is important we 
act.
  I know there are other things we are going to do in this body, and I 
will support those efforts to make sure that women--not Mitch McConnell 
and Mike DeWine--make decisions about women's health.
  I yield the floor.