[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1215
CONDEMNING VIOLENCE
(Ms. HOULAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. HOULAHAN. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago, I stood on this very House
floor and I voted to condemn violence at crisis pregnancy centers. A
vote that was difficult to make, not because I think it was wrong to
condemn violence, I don't.
Rather, it was difficult as an American to watch this governing body
politicize the ideas of civility and decency that should be undoubtedly
woven through every last one of us.
Mr. Speaker, I stand before you to condemn violence again, this time
at an abortion clinic. I stand before you to acknowledge the violent
attack at the Planned Parenthood in Illinois last week. The cowardly
arson attack, a firebomb, damaged the building just days after abortion
protections were signed into law in Illinois.
Let there be no mistake, this was clearly intended to terrorize
women, girls, their families, and the medical professionals who serve
them from exercising reproductive freedoms.
Now, I ask my Republican colleagues to join me as I have joined them
in condemning violence and this violent attack. From this day forward,
I invite all Americans to unequivocally say that we must restore
civility and decency in every corner of our Nation because violence is
never the answer ever.
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