WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) took to the House Floor to denounce Republicans’ latest bill attacking reproductive freedom. Below is a transcript of her remarks: 

“Republicans have one goal today and that is a march towards a national abortion ban. They want it so desperately that now — through this bill — they’re treating doctors like criminals, demonizing heartbroken women, and accusing mothers of killing their newborn, healthy infants.

“Let me tell you what happened to me, a story that can be told by so many women in this country.

“I learned during a routine sonogram that the doctors could no longer pick up a heartbeat. I was devastated by this news. And my doctor said that I would need abortion care to prevent infection. I asked for more time — that I could go home and somehow hope that this could all be reversed. And when the time came where I needed to have this procedure to protect my own health and be the mother I wanted to be for my children, I asked one more time — 'please check that that heartbeat is there' — before they did this procedure.

“These are horrible, painful situations that women, and families, expecting parents find themselves in. And when you introduce the politics into these moments of grief, they have real consequences for people. When the Republicans continue to threaten doctors with prison, what have they achieved? They have gutted reproductive health care in this country.

“OB/GYNs are fleeing states with abortion bans and leaving the field altogether. Today, one third of all counties in our country have no obstetric care. No doctors to help women deliver their babies safely. One example: under Georgia’s abortion ban, currently half of the counties don’t have a single obstetrician.

“If you truly care about the lives of women and children, you will vote no on this bill.”

To watch the full speech, click HERE.