[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6754]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                            GLOBAL GAG RULE

  (Ms. WOOLSEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, family planning saves lives. Whether we are 
talking about Sonoma County, California, or Somalia, women who have 
control over their reproductive health are better off, and so are their 
families. That is why we must repeal the global gag rule.
  Denying women around the world access to a full range of reproductive 
choices not only limits their health care options, it leaves women 
trapped in abusive relationships; held back by a lack of education and 
financial stability, and unable to care for themselves and their 
families. That is not acceptable.
  Today, the Committee on International Relations will take up the 
measure offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) to end the 
global gag rule. I urge my colleagues on the committee and throughout 
this House to vote ``yes'' on her legislation and vote ``yes'' for 
women's rights around the world.
  Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, the global gag rule will cost women 
around the world their lives. Women in the United States may enjoy 
reproductive freedom today, but our rights are only as safe as the 
rights of all women.

                          ____________________