Sens. Murray, Democrats Vow to Defend Women’s Constitutionally Protected Rights, Health Care

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., ranking Democratic member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following news release:

Led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate health committee, today Senate Democrats spoke on the Senate floor to condemn recent threats by President Trump and Congressional Republicans to women's constitutionally protected reproductive health care rights. The floor speeches follow President Trump's executive order barring international health organizations that receive U.S. funding from offering or advising on abortion as a family planning option, also known as the "global gag rule." Senator Murray and Democrats warned President Trump and Congressional Republicans that if they continue down this deeply harmful path, "the millions of people who care about women's rights and their access to health care are going to keep standing up."

Excerpts from Senator Murray's floor remarks:

"M. President, I was so proud to march this weekend with millions of women--and men--in a clear rejection of the hate and division that President Trump campaigned on, and in strong support of every woman's rights. This weekend we also recognized the anniversary of the historic ruling in Roe v. Wade, a decision that has empowered women, and expanded economic opportunity and security for families, for more than four decades."

"Now, we have already seen extreme politicians in state after state do everything they can to undermine abortion access. But unfortunately M. President, today the constitutionally protected rights women have had for forty-four years are unfortunately more at risk than ever, as a result of President Trump's extreme and deeply harmful agenda. He has promised to pick Supreme Court nominees whose beliefs about women's reproductive rights simply could not be more backwards or more damaging. And, in what looks unfortunately like a sign of things to come, the President yesterday signed an executive order limiting access to safe abortion--and other family planning services--on women worldwide by reinstituting the global gag rule."

"Now, I can understand why President Trump may not have wanted to hear from the hundreds of thousands of marchers who completely filled the National Mall on Saturday--or the millions more nationwide who marched as well, in every state from coast to coast and on every continent. But if he didn't get the message--this was just the beginning. The millions of people who care about women's rights and their access to health care are going to keep standing up. And we here in the Senate are going to stand with them--fight back every step of the way."

Full text of Senator Murray's remarks, as prepared:

Thank you, M. President.

And thank you to my colleagues who have joined me today and are always ready to stand up and be a voice for women here in the Senate.

M. President, I was so proud to march this weekend with millions of women--and men--in a clear rejection of the hate and division that President Trump campaigned on, and in strong support of every woman's rights.

This weekend we also recognized the anniversary of the historic ruling in Roe v. Wade, a decision that has empowered women, and expanded economic opportunity and security for families, for more than four decades.

I have heard story after story, from Washington state and across the country, about what Roe v. Wade means for women.

It means being able to plan your family, being able to pursue your dreams, and give back to your community.

But perhaps most importantly, the decision in Roe v. Wade sent a clear message that access to abortion--a woman's right to make that most personal decision herself--is fundamental to her freedom and her ability to chart her own path.

Now, we have already seen extreme politicians in state after state do everything they can to undermine abortion access.

But unfortunately M. President, today the constitutionally protected rights women have had for forty-four years are unfortunately more at risk than ever, as a result of President Trump's extreme and deeply harmful agenda.

He has promised to pick Supreme Court nominees whose beliefs about women's reproductive rights simply could not be more backwards or more damaging.

And, in what looks unfortunately like a sign of things to come, the President yesterday signed an executive order limiting access to safe abortion--and other family planning services--on women worldwide by reinstituting the global gag rule.

M. President, I want to be very clear that if the President continues down this path, women will be hurt. Their lives will be put at risk. And the same goes for women around the world.

So I am very concerned. I am angry. But if Saturday's march proved anything--it proved that women and men across the country are more motivated than ever. And so am I.

Now, I can understand why President Trump may not have wanted to hear from the hundreds of thousands of marchers who completely filled the National Mall on Saturday--or the millions more nationwide who marched as well, in every state from coast to coast and on every continent.

But if he didn't get the message--this was just the beginning.

The millions of people who care about women's rights and their access to health care are going to keep standing up.

And we here in the Senate are going to stand with them--fight back every step of the way--and do everything in our power to make sure that our country doesn't go backward.

It won't be easy--but I know we can do it if we keep marching together.

Thank you--and let's keep up the fight.

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