[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2635]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  WHOLE WOMAN'S HEALTH V. HELLERSTEDT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, today the Supreme Court heard the oral 
arguments in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt. At issue in this case 
is a Texas law that puts restrictions on women's health clinics and 
providers.
  Contrary to what proponents claim, these restrictions do not enhance 
women's health in any way. They are medically unnecessary, according to 
groups like the American Medical Association and the American College 
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Instead, these restrictions serve 
just one purpose: to restrict women's access to clinics.
  If the Texas law stands, nearly three-quarters of the State's clinics 
will be forced to close. That would leave just 10 clinics statewide to 
serve 5.4 million Texan women of reproductive age. But unfortunately, 
this is the type of thing we have come to expect from the State of 
Texas. The Texas Legislature and Governor have already passed laws that 
infringe on its citizens' constitutional rights.
  For example, the State has passed laws that limit victims' ability to 
recover much-deserved damages after accidents. And they have passed one 
of the strictest voter ID laws in the Nation. We are seeing the results 
of the State's pattern of undermining their citizens' constitutional 
rights. Just yesterday it was reported that more than half a million 
registered voters in Texas can't even vote.
  This is the pattern of disenfranchisement Texas is engaged in. The 
State's women are, sadly, the latest example of Texas infringing on 
important constitutional rights. Though it is not entirely surprising 
that the radical Republicans in Texas have targeted women's health, it 
is nonetheless disappointing. I hope the Supreme Court will choose to 
protect women's health and strike down this disastrous Texas law.

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