[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 10 (Thursday, January 12, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E24]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              BORN-ALIVE ABORTION SURVIVORS PROTECTION ACT

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                               speech of

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 11, 2023

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today because 2 months ago, 
Americans sent a clear message to Congress, rejecting the extremist 
anti-abortion, anti-reproductive health policies of the GOP.
  Yet, here we are today, on our first week in Congress, voting on 
legislation that puts women at risk by jeopardizing the ability of 
medical professionals to perform lifesaving care. Under the Republican 
agenda, women do not have the right to make decisions about their own 
bodies and about their own healthcare.
  Make no mistake, this is yet another step toward the GOP's ultimate 
goal of criminalizing abortion nationwide and banning contraception 
while doing absolutely nothing to address the real issues impacting 
parents, children, and families across our country.
  House Democrats will fight to protect abortion rights, to maintain 
access to contraception, and to not put the government between women 
and their doctors.
  The GOP's decades-long demonization of reproductive healthcare 
providers has resulted in targeted violence, as well as continual 
harassment of those seeking abortion care. Yet, instead of speaking out 
against these heinous crimes, the GOP is focusing on a resolution that 
picks what type of violence is unacceptable to them, when in reality 
violence should be condemned in all forms no matter what groups are 
being targeted.
  For this reason, I am co-sponsoring a House Resolution that condemns 
attacks on healthcare facilities, healthcare personnel, and patients. 
This Resolution condemns the hatred, violence, and harassment that 
abortion providers, reproductive health advocates, and other healthcare 
providers have faced for providing essential healthcare services to 
women across our country.
  I call upon our colleagues across the aisle to condemn violence 
regardless of whom it is being directed at, and I invite them to do so 
by adopting this language into their resolution.

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