Video And Rush Transcript: Congressman Dan Goldman Delivers Floor Speech on Abortion Rights

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) today delivered a speech on the House floor condemning Republican attacks on abortion rights and their attempts to deny American women the freedom and fundamental right to make decisions about their own bodies.

VIDEO available here.
 
A rush transcript of the Congressman’s remarks is available below:
 
I rise today to talk about freedom, a core American value.

Specifically, individual freedom, a value that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have for years co-opted, weaponized and distorted.  
 
I simply do not understand how my Republican colleagues can demand the individual freedom to spread a deadly disease to other people by not getting vaccinated or wearing masks, yet have the gall to deny the individual freedom to make decisions about one's own body that has no impact on anyone else.  
 
How can it be that autonomy to wear a mask, or not, is of greater importance than the autonomy over whether to have a baby or not?  
 
Let me say it plainly. We cannot talk about preserving our individual freedoms while simultaneously ripping away a fundamental freedom for women in this country.  
 
Control over one's reproductive health is a human right. We are in the first week of Congress and what are we focused on?  
 
Is it to fight inflation? No.  
 
Creating jobs for Americans? No.  
 
Protecting children from gun violence? No.  
 
It's to continue the assault on women's autonomy.  
 
Thank you; I yield back.
 

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