[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 257]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1220
                    40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE

  (Ms. DeGETTE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeGETTE. Yesterday, in his inaugural address, our President 
reminded us of the founding principle of our Nation--that all Americans 
are created equal. For the women of this great country, there can be no 
greater means of equality than the right to reproductive choice.
  Today, on the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I come to the floor to 
reflect on that landmark decision that allowed American women the 
freedom to make health care decisions on their own, in consultation 
with their family and doctors.
  I don't know the story of every woman who's had to make a difficult 
decision, but I can tell you this: each one is unique. Each woman's 
story is her own. As a politician, I'm not going to tell women when to 
get checkups or when to get mammograms. And no politician, now or ever, 
should tell a woman how to handle her pregnancy.
  Just this morning, The Wall Street Journal issued a poll that showed 
Americans agree with this; 7 in 10 Americans believe Roe v. Wade should 
stand. And I think everybody who tries to reverse this fundamental 
right should keep that in mind.
  Thank you to everybody who fights every day for the rights of women. 
Today is a day to be grateful and to celebrate and to commit to hard 
work in the future.

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