The statements of two Minnesota representatives following the House’s passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act paint a fitting portrait of the enormous gulf between Democrats and Republicans on abortion.
In a statement this past Friday, Rep. Betty McCollum praised the passage of H.R. 3755 as a codification of Roe v. Wade and a “legislative safeguard” against state Republican efforts to ban abortion.
“I proudly voted for the Women’s Health and Protection Act to finally codify the protections established in Roe v. Wade,” she proclaimed.
McCollum called the pro-life movement propelling Republican action on abortion “extreme,” claiming it “seeks to deny women the fundamental liberty to make deeply personal decisions about their own reproductive lives.”
“Stripping away women’s rights to privacy is unacceptable, and with the passage of this bill, House Democrats are creating a legislative safeguard,” she added.
Rep. Pete Stauber, on the other hand, had an entirely different perspective on the House’s passage of H.R. 3755. In a statement also released this past Friday, Stauber called the bill “barbaric.”
“As the pro-life father of four and foster parent, it absolutely breaks my heart that the Democrat majority in the House chose to pass a barbaric bill that would allow abortion violence up until the moment of birth,” he said. “This legislation is a despicable attack on the sanctity of life and goes directly against the will of the American people, as the overwhelming majority of the population opposes abortion with no limits.”
Stauber tweeted a video clip of himself attacking the bill in a speech on the House floor.
“Every life is precious and must be protected,” he said. “For me, a huge part of my pro-life story is my son Isaac. Isaac was born with Down syndrome, and he brings so much joy to our family.”
Stauber claimed the bill permits “discriminatory” abortions on the grounds of race, sex, and disability.
“It is disgraceful that there are people in this very chamber who don’t believe that children like my son deserve the right to life,” he said.
This week, Democrats plan to bring forward legislation that would allow abortions up until birth. The Dems’ Abortion on Demand Until Birth Act is nothing less than barbaric, which is why I recently spoke on the House Floor to express my strong opposition to this legislation. pic.twitter.com/oIYj6bPIkH
— Pete Stauber (@RepPeteStauber) September 22, 2021
The Women’s Health Protection Act passed the House in a 218-210 party line vote. Only one Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas, voted against the bill, while Rep. Al Lawson Jr. of Florida did not cast a vote.
The bill has now moved on to the Senate, where it faces almost certain death.
Evan Stambaugh
Evan Stambaugh is a freelance writer who had previously been a sports blogger. He has a BA in theology and an MA in philosophy.
