US ON THIS MATTER. I'M GOING TO PLACE INTO THE RECORD SEVERAL
           LETTERS FROM ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE PHYSICIANS. HERE'S ONE FROM
           THE SOCIETY OF PHYSICIANS FOR REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE AND HEALTH.
           THE PEOPLE THAT MY COLLEAGUE HAS CALLED "EXCUSEERS." --

           EXECUTIONERS." LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND OF THE
           COUNTRY, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO BRING OUR CHILDREN INTO THE
           WORLD. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SAVE THEIR LIVES WHEN THEY'RE
           HURT. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE RUN TO WHEN THEY HAVE TO GO
           TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM. THIS IS THE STATEMENT. "IN WHAT IT CLAIMS
           AS A TRIBUTE TO MOTHERS, THE UNITED STATES SENATE WILL VOTE ON

           A BILL CRIMINALIZING A PROCEDURE AND IN FACT THE LEGISLATORS
           WHO SUPPORT THAT BAN ARE NOT CELEBRATING MOTHERS BUT ARE IN
           FACT DISHONORING AND CONDEMNING MOTHERHOOD BY PLACING PREGNANT
           WOMEN AT GREATER RISK FOR INFERTILITY AND DEATH." THESE ARE THE
           PEOPLE WHO WE TURN TO WHEN WE'RE SICK AND THEY'RE TELLING US
           NOT TO PASS THIS SANTORUM BILL. AND THEY BRING BACK THE DAYS

           BEFORE 1973 "PRIOR TO ABORTION ABORTION'S LEGALIZATION IN 1973,
           THE LEADING CAUSE OF MATERNAL DEATH IN THIS NATION WAS ILLEGAL
           ABORTION. AS CONGRESS ATTEMPTS TO BAN ADORGS PROCEDURE BY
           PROCEDURE, MORE AND MORE PREGNANT BIM WILL DIE. AS PHYSICIANS,"
           THEY WRITE, "CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND LIVES OF OUR WOMEN
           PATIENTS, WE BELIEVE THIS IS A SHAMEFUL CELEBRATION OF
           MOTHERHOOD. ". I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO PLACE THIS LETTER
           INTO THE RECORD.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MRS. BOXER: THEN WE HAVE A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE VICE
           PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND
           GYNECOLOGISTS. THESE ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO BRING LIFE INTO
           THE WORLD. THESE ARE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO DELIVEROUR BABIES.
           YOU KNOW, I FIND IT INTERESTING WHEN THE SENATOR FROM
           PENNSYLVANIA TALKS ABOUT BREACH BIRTHS. I HAD A BREACH BIRTH. I
           DON'T THINK HE EVER DID. AND I KNOW WHAT IT IS. AND I KNOW WHAT

           THE RISKS ARE. I AM A MOTHER OF TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. I AM A
           GRANDMOTHER OF ONE BEAUTIFUL GRANDSON. AND I TUCK HIM IN AND I
           READ HIM STORIES, AND I LOVE HIM, AND I WANT HIM TO GROW UP IN
           A WORLD WHERE FAMILIES ARE RESPECTED, WHERE PHYSICIANS ARE
           RESPECTED, WHERE NO ONE STANDS UP ON THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE
           AND CALLS A PHYSICIAN AN EXECUTIONER. I DON'T THINK THAT'S A

           GOOD COUNTRY. I DON'T THINK THAT'S RESPECT. I DON'T THINK THAT
           BRINGS HEALING TO THIS ISSUE. THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF
           OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNECOLOGISTS SAYS THAT "THIS BILL IS VAGUE
           AND BROAD. IT FAILS TO USE RECOGNIZED MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY AND
           FAILS TO DEFINE EXPLICITLY THE PROHIBITED MEDICAL TECHNIQUE

           THIS CRIMINAL L -- IT CRIMINALIZES." THIS IS AN IMPORTANT
           POINT. BILLS JUST LIKE THIS ONE HAVE BEEN RULED
           UNCONSTITUTIONAL, MR. PRESIDENT, 20 TIMES. ONE OF THOSE
           DECISIONS WAS THE STATE OF ARKANSAS. AND I'M GOING TO SHARE
           THOSE DECISIONS WITH YOU BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. SOME
           OF US SAY LOCAL CONTROL. LET THE STATES DECIDE. AND THE STATES
           HAVE PASSED THESE LAWS, AND NOT ONE OF THEM YET HAS BEEN PROVEN

           CONSTITUTIONAL OR DECLARED CONSTITUTIONAL. BUT 20 HAVE BEEN
           DECLARED UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE OF WHAT THE DOCTORS ARE
           SAYING. IT IS SO VAGUE -- THE LANGUAGE IN THIS BILL, SO VAGUE
           AND THE LANGUAGE IN ALL THOSE BILLS THAT IT WOULD IN FACT
           OUTLAW ALL ABORTION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME DURING THE
           PREGNANCY. SO WHEN MY COLLEAGUE FROM PENNSYLVANIA SAYS, WELL,
           WE DON'T WANT TO OVERTURN ROE V. WADE -- AND PERHAPS WE'LL HAVE
           A CHANCE TO VOTE ON THAT AS WELL -- WELL, WHEN HE SAYS THAT,

           THAT'S NOT WHAT THE COURTS ARE SAYING. THE COURTS ARE SAYING
           THAT HIS LAW DOES IN FACT MAKE ALL ABORTIONS ILLEGAL AND WOULD
           CRIMINALIZE ABORTION. I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THIS
           LETTER BE PLACED IN THE RECORD.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MRS. BOXER: THEN THERE IS A LETTER FROM THE AMERICAN MEDICAL
           WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION. ARE THESE EXECUTIONERS, TOO?
           THEY WORK IN THE MEDICAL FIELD FIELD. THEY SAY THEY'RE GRAVELY
           CONCERNED WITH GOVERNMENTAL ATTEMPTS TO LEGISLATE -- REGULATE
           -- INCLUDING FUTURE FERTILITY OR FAIL TO CONSIDER OTHER
           PERTINENT ISSUES SUCH AS FETAL ABNORMALTIES. AND THEY STRONGLY
           OPPOSE GOVERNMENT EAFERLTSS TO INTERFERE WITH PHYSICIAN-PATIENT

           AUTONOMY. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO PLACE THIS LETTER IN THE
           RECORD.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION. BOFMG BOX THE
           AMERICAN --
           

           MRS. BOXER: THE AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION. ARE THEY EXCUSEERS
           OR ARE THEY LOFLING PEOPLE WHO CHOOSE THIS FIELD OF WORK
           BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE WELL, BECAUSE THEY HAVE
           COMPASSION IN THEIR HEARTS?
           WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT THIS?
           THEY OPPOSE THE SANTORUM BILL. THEY SAY IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR
           CONGRESS TO MANDATE A COURSE OF ACTION FOR A WOMAN WHO IS
           ALREADY FACED WITH AN INTENSELY PERSONAL AND DIFFICULT

           DECISION. THEY REPRESENT 2.2 MILLION REGISTERED NURSES, AND
           THEY ASK US TO DEFEAT THIS. I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT THIS
           LETTER BE PLACED IN THE RECORD.
           

           THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WITHOUT OBJECTION.
           

           MRS. BOXER: SO IF SOMEONE WANTS TO STAUNDZ HERE ON THE SENATE
           FLOOR AND ATTACK A WHOLE PART OF OUR AMERICA, AND IF TH WANT TO
           USE CARTOONS ON THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO
           DEPICTL A WOMAN'S BODY, THAT'S UP TO THEM. BUT I ASK THE
           AMERICAN PEOPLE TO BE THE JUDGE BOTH OF THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT
           IS HAPPENING HERE AND THE TECHNIQUES THAT HAVE BEEN USED AND
           THE INFLEAM FLAMMATORY LEVEL OF THE DEBATE -- AND THE
           INFLAMMATORY LEVEL OF THE DEBATE. I WAUNTS TO MEET A REAL

           PERSON. I WANT I WANT YOU TO MEET A REAL PERSON. I WANT TO PUT
           A REAL FACE -- NOT A CARTOON, BUT A REAL FACE -- ON THE FLOOR
           OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE. AND I WANT TO TELL A LITTLE BIT
           ABOUT HER STORY. MY HUSBAND AND I -- "MY HUSBAND AND I" -- THIS
           IS TIFFANY. TIFFANY BENJAMIN. "MY HUSBAND AND I WAITED UNTIL WE

           WERE ESTABLISHED IN OUR CAREERS AND COULD PROVIDE THE BEST
           POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT FOR A CHILD. IN 1994 WE WERE THRILLED WITH
           THE NEWS THAT WE WERE EXPECTING A BABY. MY FIRST FIVE MONTHS
           WERE JOYOUS MONTHS OF PREGNANCY. DURING A ROUTINE CHECKUP, MY
           PHYSICIAN PERFORMED A STANDARD A.F.P. TEST. THE RESULTS WERE
           ABNORMAL, SO MY DOCTOR ORDERED ANOTHER TEST. UNFORTUNATELY,
           THIS TEST WAS ALSO IRREGULAR. ANDZ IN MY 20TH WEEK OF

           PREGNANCY, WE DISCOVERED THAT OUR CHILD HAD TRISEME-13. EACH
           CELL OF HER BODY CARRIED AND ADDITIONAL 13TH CHROMOSOME.
           DOCTORS ADVISED THAT HER CONDITION WAS LETHAL. NO ONE COULD
           OFFER US HOPE. SADLY, WE DETERMINED THAT THE MOST MERCIFUL
           DECISION FOR OUR CHILD" -- OUR CHILD AND OUR FAMILY -- "WOULD
           BE TO TERMINATE MY PREGNANCY. ALTHOUGH THE YEARS HAVE PASSED
           FOR US, THE DEPTH OF OUR LOSS IS VIVID IN OUR MINDS. WE ARE
           ASTOUNDED THAT ANYONE CAN BELIEVE THAT THIS TYPE OF DECISION IS

           MADE IRRESPONSIBLY AND WITHOUT A GREAT DEAL OF SOUL-SEARCHING
           AND ANGUISH. THESE CHOICES WERE UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST PAINFUL
           DECISIONS OF OUR LIVES. PLEASE DON'T COMPOUND THE PAIN OF OTHER
           FAMILIES LIKE OURS BY TAKING AWAY OUR ABILITY TO MAKE THE
           DIFFICULT CHOICES THAT ONLY WE CAN MAKE IN SKULLATION WITH OUR
           PHYSICIANS PHYSICIANS. PLEASE REJECT S. 1692 AND PROTECT OUR
           FAMILIES FROM THIS DANGEROUS LEGISLATION." I ASK YOU TO LOOK AT

           TIFFANY AND HER SON. DOES SHE LOOK LIKE AN EXECUTIONER TO YOU?
           DOES SHE LOOK LIKE SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THIS CHILD
           AND SUDDENLY WOKE UP AND SAID, I'VE CHANGED MY MIND?
           NO. THIS IS A LOVING WOMAN, A LOVING FAMILY MEMBER. SHE HAD TO
           HAVE THIS PROCEDURE PROCEDURE, AND THIS LEGISLATION COULD STOP
           HER FROM HAVING IT. I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT ANOTHER WOMAN,

           CINDY, A 30-YEAR-OLD MOTHER OF FIVE LIVING IN KANSAS CITY, WHO
           SAYS VERY PROUDLY THAT SHE IS A CATHOLIC. "IN JUNE OF 198,
           CINDY NOTICE ADD LUMP ON HER NECK AND CALLED HER DOCTOR. WITHIN
           WEEKS SHE FOUND OUT SHE HAD THYROID CANCER AND AFTER SURGERY
           BEGAN IODINE RADIATION TREATMENTS. CONTRARY TO MEDICAL
           PROTOCOL, SHE WAS NOT GIVEN A PREGNANCY TEST PRIOR TO THE
           RADIATION TREATMENT. CINDY'S BODY DID NOT RESPOND TO THE
           RADIATION AND BLOOD RESULTS INDICATEED THAT HER BODY STILL

           CONTAINED THE DEADLY DISEASE. AFTER RETURNING TO THE HOSPITAL
           FOR ANOTHER TREATMENT, HER BLOOD WAS DRAWN FOR A PREGNANCY TEST
           BUT THE STAFF DID NOT WAIT FOR THE RESULTS. THEY GAVE HER
           ANOTHER IODINE RADIATION PILL. DUE TO THE RADIOACTIVE IODINE IN
           HER BODY, SHE WAS PLACED IN AN ISOLATION ROOM. NO ONE COULD
           ENTER, NOT HER HUSBAND OR HER NURSES OR HER PHYSICIAN. TWO
           HOURS LATER, SHE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM HER PHYSICIAN
           TELLING HER THEY'D MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE. HER PREGNANCY TEST

           CAME BACK POSITIVE. SHE IMMEDIATELY STARTED DRINKING WATER
           BECAUSE THE DOCTORS TOLD HER THAT ALL SHE COULD DO IN AN
           ATTEMPT TO SHIELD HER BABY FROM THE RADIATION WAS TO DRINK A
           LOT OF WATER. THE NEXT DAY A SECOND PREGNANCY TEST CONFIRMED
           THE FIRST AND A SONOGRAM WAS ORDERED. THAT IS WHEN CINDY AND
           HER HUSBAND LEARNED THAT NOT ONLY WAS SHE 13 WEEKS PREGNANT BUT
           SHE WAS EXPECTING TWINS. THE TWINS THEY HAD ALWAYS HOPED FOR.

           NOW IMAGINE -- MOWING -- THE FEELING OF THAT FAMILY. WITHIN
           HOURS THE FAMILY LEARNED THAT THEIR BABIES WOULD NOT SURVIVE,
           NOT GROW, NOT DEVELOP. THE RADIATION THAT HER BABIES RECEIVED
           WAS EQUIVALENT TO THE BOMB DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA. CINDY SAYS, WE
           DECIDED THAT TERMINATION WOULD BE BEST FOR OUR FAMILY AND OUR
           BABIES THROUGH OUR RESEARCH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD US,
           HOWEVER. THAT WE WERE ON OUR OWN AND SHE ADDS, "YOU SEE, AS A
           FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, MY INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY FOR ELECTIVE

           ABORTIONS," SHE SAYS. "BECAUSE THIS ABORTION WAS MEANT TO
           PRESERVE HER HEALTH, BECAUSE OF THE VOTES IN THIS CONGRESS, SHE
           COULD NOT GET HELP. SHE SAYS, "I HAVE FIVE LITTLE ONES AT HOME
           WHO DEPEND ON THEIR MOMMY EVERY DAY. I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE AN
           ABORTION, BUT I NEEDED ONE. AND THE ABORTION THAT I HAD WOULD
           HAVE CLEARLY BEEN BANNED BY THIS BILL AND I THANK GOD THAT THIS
           BILL DIDN'T TIE MY DRS. HAND." LET ME JUST SAY THAT AGAIN. THIS

           IS A WOMAN WHO IS RELIGIOUS. THIS IS A WOMAN WHO SAYS TO US,
           "NAING GOD THAT THAT BILL WASN'T LAW, THE BILL THAT THE SENATOR
           FROM PENNSYLVANIA IS FIGHTING TOW HARD TO BECOME LAW LAW. SHE
           SAY, THANK GOD IT WASN'T THE LAW. SHE SAYS, "THIS IS CLEARLY AN
           INTENSELY PRIVATE, FOR TU WITH US DECISION. ARE -- AND I TO A
           WORTH YOU MUST CARRY YOUR CHILD TO TERM DESPITE THE FACT THAT

           IT'S BEEN DETERMINED THE CHILD WON'T LIVE AND YOUR HEALTH WILL
           BE AFFECTED?
           I MUST SAY THAT THESE WOMEN DESERVE OUR THANKS BECAUSE HERE
           THEY ARE BEING CALLED THE WORST NAMES IN THE BOOK, BEING
           ESSENTIALLY TOLD THAT THEY DON'T LOVE CHILDREN THAT THEY DON'T
           CARE ABOUT CHILDREN WHEN IN FACT THESE ARE LOVING MOMS. IN MANY

           CASES QUITE RELIGIOUS. MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME
           THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS BROUGHT THIS BILL BEFORE THE
           SENATE. AGAIN, IT HAS US PLAYING DOCTOR WITHOUT ONE
           OBSTETRICIAN OR ONE GYNECOLOGIST AMONG US. THE OBSTETRICIANS
           AND THE GYNECOLOGISTS SAY WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS. THE WOMEN WHO
           HAVE HAD THIS PROCEDURE SAY WE SHOULDN'T DO IT. AND WE'RE GOING
           TO HAVE A LOT MORE DEBATE AND I KNOW THAT MY COLLEAGUE IS HERE

           FROM
{END: 1999/10/20 TIME: 12-00 , Wed.  106TH SENATE, FIRST SESSION}