[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 237-238]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1330
                     ABSURD COMMENTS ABOUT ABORTION

  (Ms. MOORE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, over the years, I have heard some rather 
absurd comments from my Republican colleagues about abortion. Some have 
compared Planned Parenthood to drug dealers, abortion factories, and 
the Ku Klux Klan. I have even heard grown men debate ``legitimate 
rape'' on live TV. I have even heard a Republican lawmaker put forth 
the claim that, if women are allowed to have abortions, men should be 
allowed to rape.
  After nearly 30 years of public office, nothing really surprises me 
anymore, Mr. Speaker. So you can imagine my lack of astonishment when 
my dear friend and colleague from Wisconsin, Sean Duffy, rolled out 
abortion statistics among African American women to lecture Black 
legislators like myself about defending the welfare of our 
constituents.
  Since the United States Supreme Court ruled in 1963 that women are 
guaranteed the privacy and power and right to make medical decisions 
concerning their own bodies, anti-choice legislators have been trying 
to end safe and legal abortion. A tactic that has been part of their 
strategy is to use inflammatory, racial arguments, and deceptive claims 
to stigmatize abortion in communities of color.

[[Page 238]]

  I don't expect Representative Duffy to understand why his comments 
are offensive, but what he and so many of his Republican colleagues 
fail to acknowledge is the underlying context behind high abortion 
rates in African American communities.
  High rates of abortion are related to poverty and lack of access to 
quality care. The war on women's health centers has resulted in 
multiple barriers to accessing quality, affordable health care, which 
could lead to higher rates of both unintended pregnancy and abortion.
  Representative Duffy's hypocrisy on this issue is as predictable as 
it is offensive. If he truly, truly wants to fight for the hopeless and 
voiceless, he should join us.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman from Wisconsin 
has expired.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. What is the rule on attacking personalities in the 
House?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. House rule XVII prohibits Members from 
engaging in personalities in debate.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Did the prior speech violate that rule?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair cannot give an advisory opinion on 
that.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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