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CONGRESSMAN LIEU STATEMENT ON REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO RESTRICT ABORTION RIGHTS

May 13, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2015
CONTACT:Jack d’Annibale | 202-330-1613

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-CA) issued the following statement regarding H.R. 36, which would ban all abortions from being performed after 20 weeks gestation. The bill, which would criminalize abortion providers, is opposed by a wide range of religious, human rights, and professional medical organizations. Congressman Lieu voted against H.R. 36, which passed the House today by a vote of 242-184.

“H.R. 36 is flat out unconstitutional”, said Congressman Lieu. “Not only would H.R. 36 violate the Constitution if it became law, the bill is based on ideology rather than facts. Despite the misleading Republican messaging on this bill, H.R. 36 is not actually about medical science or the health of women and families. The truth is that only 1% of abortions are performed after 20 weeks, and the vast majority of them are medically necessary. We know this bill is not about the health of women and families because it doesn’t contain adequate exceptions to save the health or lives of mothers and children. In practice, it would restrict access to all vital reproductive health services for women in the most desperate circumstances.”

“Legislation like H.R. 36 that limits abortion rights is actually about federal control over our most private and personal decisions. It’s about violating a woman’s conscience and her right to free agency over her own body. It’s dangerous and unconstitutional.”

“I trust women to make the best reproductive health decisions for themselves and their families. I voted against H.R. 36 today and will continue to do all I can to make sure that these private and personal decisions are made by women and their doctors, not by the federal government.”