Date: 2011-02-16
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Chair. let me thank the former chair of the Health and Human Services Subcommittee and now the ranking member. Ms. DELAURO. and the manager and the chairman of the subcommittee. I thought. Madam Chairwoman. that we lived in a country that was a land of the free and the brave. We had a sense of pride in the progress that America has made. and we have always said we would never want to go back. whether it has to do with actual equal rights for women. whether it is civil rights and the ability to be empowered to vote. But I stand on the floor today with a great deal of disappointment because it seems as if. with this continuing resolution. that will literally stop in its tracks the functioning of this government. We are really going back. I rise to support the Lowey amendment because I really cant believe that this CR is eliminating $327 million in family planning. It just baffles the mind that this critical aspect of health care is now in jeopardy. It is now being part of turning the clock back. It is amazing that we would not acknowledge the fact that lives of women have been saved. lives of young girls have been saved because theyve had access to family planning. As much as we have fought to be able to ensure that around the world where indigent women who have lost their lives through the birthing process now have access to good medical careand yes. family planningso that they can have live births. now we come here to the soil of the United States. and to take $327 million out of the mouths and the hands of women and childrenyes. children who can be born healthy. Children who are part of the health care process that these women are able to secure through the many clinics that are around this Nation and in this community. I am disappointed in the games that are played with Planned Parenthood and to be able to demonize them with false and fraudulent tapings and a lot of bogus arguments about the fact that they are not in the business of helping people. I am disappointed in using those tactics because this is a very serious issue. Mrs. LOWEYs amendment addresses the seriousness of it because she realizes that if we were to go through with the elimination of $327 million. there would be many. many lives that are lost. We have a Planned Parenthood office in my community. It is mostly focusing its attention on educating the community about healthy births. about ensuring that teenagers are not alone when decisions have to be made. decisions that will allow for the healthy birth or determination that is made by their faith leader with their family. They will not be left alone. In fact. family planning and Planned Parenthood extinguishes. I hope for good. the back alley procedures and. as well. the rusty hangers that were used in years past. Just a day or two ago. we heard of a horrible abortion clinic that saw the lives lost of babies and their mothers because of the dastardly tactics that were being used. That is not what we speak of here today. We speak of the right of a woman to be able to choose but also to accept the good health care of family planning. We speak of the rights of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence that really ensure that we all are created equal. with certain inalienable rights of life. liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Bill of Rights. which allows us due process. is what is being denied in this continuing resolution for. as we speak. if that money is eliminated. clinics around America will have their doors closed. Women will be standing outside. banging on the door and asking for good health care. So I ask my colleagues to support Congresswoman LOWEYs amendment. and I truly ask you to not take this Nation back and eliminate $327 million in family planning. benign but healthy and good health care and good policy for America and for Americas women and for Americas children. Let us support the Lowey amendment and let us reject the elimination of $327 million in family planning and this continuing resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.