[Page H2818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WOMEN'S RIGHTS

  (Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call out a growing 
insidious threat to women.
  There are bills in at least eight State legislatures that would 
outlaw abortions if a heartbeat can be detected. Typically, this is at 
about 6 weeks of a pregnancy, though it can be earlier.
  Six weeks is before many women even know that they are pregnant, 
effectively taking away their right to choose whether or not to begin 
or expand their family.
  These laws are cruel. They are also in direct violation of the 
Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, a precedent that has stood for 
over 45 years.
  That is the point. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant recently signed 
into law one of these bills, and he did so knowing it was 
unconstitutional. He even admitted he was signing this bill for his own 
religious reasons knowing that it was likely to be challenged. He wants 
to see it go to the Supreme Court because he wants credit for trying to 
overturn Roe v. Wade.
  But the women of this country will not go back. We have fought tooth 
and nail to obtain our rights in this country. Those who believe women 
will give up their right to control their own bodies will quickly learn 
that that are sorely mistaken.

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