Rep. Frankel Stands Up Against Needless Anti-Choice Bill

Today, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) took to the House floor during debate on a needless anti-choice bill. The Conscience Protection Act would allow doctors and employers to refuse to provide care or coverage for an abortion.

Below are Rep. Frankel's remarks as delivered:

"M. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the so-called Conscience Protection Act, which would allow employers and doctors to block women’s access to full health care.

Under the guise of “conscience protection,” this is a hypocritical bill that would make it even harder for women to obtain the reproductive healthcare they need.

It's hypocritical because it does nothing to protect those doctors whose conscience guides them to provide women with safe, legal abortions.

Because of hundreds of punitive bills filed in state legislatures and this congress, these providers face the threat of harsh penalties for following their conscience – onerous fines, years in prison, and loss of their medical license.

With that said, let me respectfully suggest that the consciences that we should be protecting belong to the women of this nation who should be allowed to choose their own reproductive destiny."