ICYMI: Blumenthal Speaks on Senate Floor Against Bill Attacking Reproductive Rights

[HARTFORD, CT] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) spoke on the Senate Floor, joining Democratic colleagues, in speaking out against Republicans assaulting reproductive freedom in the first week of the Trump administration.

“This legislation is simply a blatant attempt to interfere with evidence-based patient care and medical practices while enshrining lies about abortion care. My Republican colleagues spent the last four years calling Democrats alarmists, but here they are aggressively pursuing legislation that would persecute providers for doing their jobs and making a tragic situation for families even worse,” said Blumenthal. “Medical professionals are and have always been required by law to provide infants high quality care from the moment they’re born. There’s absolutely no evidence that this law is being broken.”

Today, the Senate voted on S. 6, legislation that would create a new government mandate overriding the best judgment of grieving families facing fatal fetal diagnoses, threaten providers, and create even more barriers to reproductive health care in America. Today’s motion for cloture failed with a vote of 52-47.

“The bill would force physicians to provide invasive and hopeless measures which are both medically and ethically inappropriate in these situations. That’s why the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly oppose this legislative effort. Let’s listen to the doctors, the scientists, the professionals, rather than trying to message a bill with an anti-scientific, anti-medical science stand,” continued Blumenthal. “We’ve seen now how overturning Roe has emboldened Republicans across the United States and in this very chamber to make policies based on their own personal beliefs instead of evidence-based practices. This legislation is just another opportunity for Republicans to stand on their soap box and lie to the American people, but also create fears and apprehensions in people across the country.”

A video of Blumenthal’s remarks can be found here. A transcript of Blumenthal’s full speech is available below.

Senator Richard Blumenthal: Thanks, Mr. President. I’m proud to join my colleagues on the floor today in opposition to the Born-Alive Abortion Survivor Protection Act. If you are wondering whether that title to the legislation makes sense, the answer is no, it does not. This legislation is simply a blatant attempt to interfere with evidence-based patient care and medical practices while enshrining lies about abortion care. My Republican colleagues spent the last four years calling Democrats alarmists, but here they are aggressively pursuing legislation that would persecute providers for doing their jobs and making a tragic situation for families even worse.

Medical professionals are and have always been required by law to provide infants high quality care from the moment they’re born. There’s absolutely no evidence that this law is being broken. To suggest otherwise is deeply offensive and dangerous for any family. All of us know families, whether others or our own, learning their child will be stillborn or will not survive beyond birth is a profound loss.

This legislation would deepen that loss. It would remove any control women may have over her pregnancy and force the family to endure unnecessary and unethical medical overreach at the hands of politicians. That’s right at the hands of politicians, not medical personnel. The bill would force physicians to provide invasive and hopeless measures which are both medically and ethically inappropriate in these situations. That’s why the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly oppose this legislative effort. Let’s listen to the doctors, the scientists, the professionals, rather than trying to message a bill with an anti-scientific, anti-medical science stand.

We’ve seen now how overturning Roe has emboldened Republicans across the United States and in this very chamber to make policies based on their own personal beliefs instead of evidence-based practices. This legislation is just another opportunity for Republicans to stand on their soap box and lie to the American people, but also create fears and apprehensions in people across the country.

These policies actively harm families. Pretending otherwise is a slap in the face to those who voted for all of us and you in particular.

Let me close by invoking the spirit of Cecile Richards, after losing her just yesterday. She was a giant. She modeled guts and grit and public service, showing courage and fortitude beyond words as a champion of women’s reproductive freedom. I’ll always remember her smile, her fierce determination, her endless energy. They will be with me always and they inspire me to say today to my Republican colleagues, please leave alone the women who deserve doctor’s care, not our interference. I yield the floor.

-30-