[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 139]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      THE 14TH AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES

  (Mr. PERLMUTTER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PERLMUTTER. I first want to extend the sympathies of Colorado and 
of the Representatives to our friends from Nebraska. We suffered the 
Columbine tragedy a number of years ago, so we definitely understand 
how painful something like this is.
  Mr. Speaker, the purpose for me rising today is to talk about what 
has been given to this country in the form of the Constitution, 
particularly in the 14th Amendment.
  I would say to my friend from Texas, ``nor shall any State deprive 
any person of life, liberty or property without due process of law; nor 
deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the 
laws.''
  Until we passed that affordable health care act, people with pre-
existing conditions were being denied equal protection of the laws. We 
passed that. They now have freedom from discrimination. Yet my friends 
on the Republican side of the aisle want to take away that freedom. 
That's wrong. That's wrong for people in my district and for millions 
of people across the country because they, their kids, their families, 
and their friends have different physical conditions that require 
attention and must be covered and not discriminated against.

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