U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), a member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, submitted the following statement for the record in opposition of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act:

I rise today in opposition to H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

As Members of Congress, we should not reach into the private lives of our constituents with decisions that are this personal.  We are not qualified to make complex medical decisions, and the government is certainly not in the position to interfere in the doctor-patient relationship. But that is exactly what this bill would do by increasing medical liability for doctors, and criminalizing procedures that are safe and legal.

A woman should be able to make decisions about her health in consultation with her family, her individual faith and health professionals. Restricting access to safe abortions is clearly not the answer. With the continued economic challenges facing this country, we should be focused on getting Americans back to work, not preventing women from making choices that are best for their families and their health.

Throughout my years in Congress, I have been against any government funding of abortion, and I believe that some guidelines are important and reasonable.  However, this bill clearly goes over the line and serves not to protect the health of women and children, but rather as a direct challenge to the Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade.

I strongly urge my colleagues to vote no on this bill.