Dave Obey

Mr. OBEY

Mr. OBEY. Let me consume 1 minute of that time myself. Mr. Chairman, all I would say is that I've had at least two Members of the Republican side of the aisle come up and thank me for accepting various amendments. So while they may not have been the lead sponsors on amendments, they were certainly involved on the Republican side of the aisle in supporting some of the amendments that we have accepted and incorporated. Secondly, I think the gentleman's recitation of some of the amendments that were not considered illustrates my point earlier. The first amendment that he mentioned was an amendment that was clearly not in order under the Budget Act. It would have put this entire bill under a violation of the Budget Act for being over our allowable funding. I didn't think good conservatives would want us to do that. Secondly, I would point out that the second, third and fourth option he was talking about all speak to what kind of health care reform we should have, and that is not the jurisdiction of this committee. Those issues right now are being worked on in the Energy and Commerce Committee; they're being worked on in the Education and Labor Committee; they're being worked on in the Ways and Means Committee. And that's where they should remain. Having said that, I would now like to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. OBEY. I yield 1\3/4\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I would simply urge adoption of the manager's amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. OBEY. I claim time in opposition.

Mr. OBEY. I would ask the gentleman if he can proceed with another speaker until my speaker gets here.

Mr. OBEY. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard).

Mr. OBEY. I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Mollohan).

Mr. OBEY. I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes. Mr. Chairman, let me point out that the underlying language in this bill is, in fact, a compromise. It lifts the ban, but it does not permit Federal funds to be used for needle exchange programs that occur within 1,000 feet of a day care center, school, college or university, any public swimming pool, park, playground, video arcade, or youth center or any events sponsored by any such entity. There is overwhelming evidence that syringe exchange programs when implemented as part of a comprehensive prevention strategy are an effective public health intervention for reducing HIV/AIDS and hepatitis and do not promote drug use. Now let me be clear. I detest illegal drug use. I think it constitutes a national security threat. It ruins lives. It causes crime. It gets us into wars against drugs in Colombia and Mexico; and in fact, it gets us into another war in Afghanistan because of poppy production. So I hate illegal drugs. But even more, I hate the spread of AIDS. There's overwhelming evidence that we can help stop the spread of AIDS by allowing needle exchange programs. They are endorsed by leading public health organizations, such as the Institute of Medicine, the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Public Health Association. They are endorsed by people such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Nation's leading fighter against AIDS; Thomas Frieden; former NIH Director Harold Varmus; former Surgeons General C. Everett Koop and David Satcher, who served under Republican and Democratic administrations. They are endorsed by people such as Captain Andrew Smith from the Los Angeles Police Department; Atlantic City Deputy Chief of Police Robert Schwartz; and San Francisco Chief of Police Frederick Lau. Let me make one other point. Every Member of Congress has access to decent primary health care; but we are going to put at risk a substantial number of people if we do not support this underlying committee amendment. I want to say something personal. If we lose this amendment, it is not going to be because a lot of people on this House floor really believe that this ban makes sense. It will be because many Members are concerned and fear a cheap-shot political 30-second ad that distorts their position, spreads half-truths and scares people. I understand that concern.

Mr. OBEY. I yield myself 1 additional minute. But for the good of the country, we are being paid to ignore that kind of pressure and simply do the right thing for the country. I ask every Member of the House to do the right thing because if you do, it will save lives. I ask them to vote ``no'' on the amendment.

Mr. OBEY. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition, though I am not opposed to the amendment.

Mr. OBEY. Let me simply say that I'm perfectly happy to accept the amendment. I reserve the balance of my time, unless the gentleman is prepared to close.

Mr. OBEY. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. OBEY. I rise to claim the time in opposition.

Mr. OBEY. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. OBEY. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. OBEY. Just one; me.

Mr. OBEY. No. I have the right to close.

Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Chairman, Title X is America's family planning program. It provides comprehensive family planning services and a wide variety of other preventive care, including breast exams and instruction on breast self-examination, Pap tests, screening and appropriate treatment for sexually transmitted infections, HIV screening, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. This amendment gratuitously blocks Planned Parenthood clinics from receiving Title X funding. Those clinics provide important health care access to low-income uninsured patients, 5 million women in 4,500 clinics nationwide. The breast cancer screenings and the well-mother exams they receive may be the only health care they get all year. If Planned Parenthood clinics are forced to close, these women may have to forgo critical care because they will lack a single provider providing Title X family planning funding, and this amendment would only make matters worse. Now, if this amendment is intended to stop abortions, it has no impact whatsoever. Title X statutes forbid the use of funding for abortions, and this bill appropriates no funds whatsoever for abortions. Our bill includes the traditional Hyde language, prohibiting funds in the act from being used to support abortions. And it reads, in part: `` Projects under such title shall not be expended for abortions, all pregnancy counseling shall be nondirective, and that such amounts shall not be expended for any activity, including publication or distribution of literature that in any way tends to promote public support or opposition to any legislative proposal or candidates for public office''. And I repeat again, no funds flow for abortions, none whatsoever. Planned Parenthood plays a central role in expanding access to care under Title X. Planned Parenthood is the Nation's leading reproductive health care provider. For over 90 years, Planned Parenthood has provided low-income uninsured women with the vital reproductive health care services they need. I want to make one other point. Every Member of Congress has access to decent primary care. The Pence amendment would cut millions of American women off from their source of primary care. If Members want to do that, go ahead and vote that way. Not me. Not me and not any Member of the House, I believe, who understands the true needs of American women.

Mr. OBEY. I yield back the balance of my time. I urge opposition to the amendment.

Mr. OBEY. I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. OBEY. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I reserve my time.

Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) for a unanimous consent request. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)