[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 123 (Monday, July 29, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5535]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Reproductive Rights

  Madam President, now on the Iowa abortion ban and Project 2025, this 
morning over 1.5 million women across Iowa woke up with fewer rights 
than they had just last night. Today, a draconian new law went into 
effect in Iowa banning abortion after 6 weeks of pregnancy, before many 
women even know they are pregnant.
  Iowa's new abortion law is radical; it is dangerous; and, sadly, it 
is another example of the hard right taking America back in time 
through the courts.
  By now, it is beyond debate that attacking reproductive freedoms is a 
fundamental tenet of the GOP. Not 3 days ago, Donald Trump gave a 
speech where he bragged yet again about overturning Roe. He said:

       We did something that nobody thought was possible. I want 
     to thank the six Supreme Court Justices . . . for the wisdom 
     and courage they showed.

  Can you believe that? Can you believe that? Donald Trump wants to 
thank the six Supreme Court Justices for the courage of overturning 
Roe. What a callous message to send to women in States like Iowa and 
States like Florida and States like Arizona and Texas and others where 
freedom of choice is under assault.
  Of course, Donald Trump brags about overturning Roe all the time. A 
few months ago, Donald Trump said he was also ``proud'' to have been 
the one to clear the way for overturning Roe. And he said:

       Nobody else was going to get that done but me.

  America, when Republicans try to sound moderate on choice--they know 
where the public is; they know where women are--remember the words of 
Donald Trump who said he was proud to eliminate Roe. Remember the votes 
of the Republican Senators, knowingly voting for Justice nominees who, 
in their hearings, said they would overturn Roe or very much alluded to 
that fact.
  Now, of course, Donald Trump didn't reverse Roe alone. As I said, he 
had plenty of help from Senate Republicans, who confirmed three MAGA 
extremists to the Bench, all of whom ruled in favor of reversing Roe. 
And just a few weeks ago when Republicans were given a chance to do the 
right thing on reproductive freedoms, they doubled down on their anti-
women views by blocking a bill expressing support for a woman's right 
to choose.
  Last month, Senate Republicans even opposed protections for IVF and 
contraceptives. Can you imagine? They voted against protections for IVF 
and contraception.
  The Republican credo might as well be: ``Your body, our choice.''
  And let's not kid ourselves. This is just the beginning as far as 
Republicans are concerned. Republicans like the junior Senator from 
Ohio are on the record saying:

       I certainly would like abortion to be illegal nationally.

  That is the Republican nominee for Vice President:

       I certainly would like abortion to be illegal nationally.

  Let me repeat it again.

       I certainly would like abortion to be illegal nationally.

  And this isn't a view that was dug up from way in the past. This was 
a statement in 2022.
  Again, let me say to Americans: When Republicans try to sound 
moderate on choice, remember the words of Donald Trump, remember the 
words of the junior Republican Senator from Ohio, now the Vice 
Presidential nominee for the Republican Party, who said he supports a 
national ban on abortion.
  Consider also Trump's plan for a second term as detailed in Project 
2025. The document makes clear that if Republicans reclaim power, they 
will lay the groundwork for a national abortion ban.
  Under Project 2025, Republicans could also allow employers to deny 
access to birth control, continue attacks against in vitro 
fertilization, and could even keep track of the State of residency of 
every woman who seeks abortion anywhere.

  Can you imagine? This is heinous. It is unhinged. But it is precisely 
what MAGA extremism proposes for the country.
  Americans do not want to take our country backwards, as Project 2025 
promises to do. Americans want an agenda that promises a brighter 
future. They want leaders who will focus on creating more jobs, 
lowering costs, and expanding people's freedoms--not the oppressive 
nastiness that Project 2025 promises. The more the American people 
learn the details about Project 2025, the more trouble Donald Trump is 
going to have.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Texas.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, it is clear that the November 5 election 
is prominent on the mind of the majority leader, who has used the floor 
of the U.S. Senate to make what should be a paid political announcement 
for the ``Harris for President'' campaign.