Family Planning Amendments Act of 2004

[migrendel]

I have decided to make a topic of profound concern to me my maiden piece of legislation. I have decided to introduce a bill to stem the recent tide of assault on reproductive rights from the administration:

It shall be the stated policy of the Forum that:
a) funds for the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) shall be restored to their FY 2001 level.
b) no organization receiving federal funding for family planning services domestically or abroad shall be prohibited from mentioning the full range of reproductive options, including abortion, to their clientele on pain of federal support.
c) no funds shall be made available through the CHIP program for the care of zygotes, blastocysts, embryos, or fetuses as described by regulation as an "unborn child".
d) no law shall be construed to punish someone for an attack on a pregnant woman in such a way as to treat the act against the zygote, blastocyst, embryo, or fetus as a separate offense.

[migrendel]

Several years ago, the Bush administration withdrew $34 million in funding for contraceptive services abroad. Section A would reverse that decision and restore the funding.

[migrendel]

Since the debate has begun to lag, I put forward a motion to bring this bill to a vote.

[migrendel]

There are quite a few other acts of the administration in this area I find to be disturbing. I focused on the most problematic, particularly the first two.

You have to wonder about George. The first thing he does is take away money for contraception abroad. It seems his top priority is depriving the poor of family planning services.

[migrendel]

I see no reason why we need to provide support for abstinence programs when we can spend the money more wisely on providing family planning services. You're not helping your case, supersoulty. If Bush actually does believe this, he can be educated, but if he's doing this to appease his base, then he doesn't deserve to be president. Anyone who plays upon the ignorance of those so burdened by the dogma of faith is just not anyone I could ever respect.

[migrendel]

As fascinated as I am by ILV's declaration of offense and dubya2004's illicit sexual description, I would really like to hear the opinions of my fellow and sister senators. After all, those are the opinions that will matter when this comes up for a vote. By the way, when will we vote on it?

[migrendel]

Aye.

[migrendel]

Does the other half of the Senate plan on voting?

[migrendel]

While we of course await the remaining two votes, we have now secured the necessary margin for passage. I hope the administration will support my bill.

[migrendel]

Let's not put the cart before the horse, Akno. We don't know if the administration intends to use its veto power on this.

[migrendel]

I think I know what would be a good compromise. I will agree to strike section c, since the issue is rather minor, and my vote on a national energy proposal that in no way alters EPA and CAFE regulations in exchange for your signature.

As for Dubya 2004, I have learned to consider only opinions that do not make gratuitous use of adjectives like "sick". We're in the twenty-first century, and I'm sure my constituents understand the importance of contraceptive services.

[migrendel]

It's a tough choice. I believe that both the environment and access to contraception are very important, so I offered a compromise.

I will change my vote, though. I realize this is quite a sad day for me, but I have decided that I cannot ignore the hundreds of thousands of women who every year die of complications from childbirth, who are maimed and have only a fistula to show for it, and who are left permanently infertile. I will vote to give the Treasury department an opportunity to hurt our environment, but believe me, we will not be held hostage. We will work to further strengthen the environment, and we will not forget this cruel choice we were forced to make. My only consolation is that millions of women will no longer be forced to hoe the hard road their sisters have had to, and that the prospect of a society of wanted, loved children is nearer.

[migrendel]

This is truly a great day for me. Both of my maiden pieces of legislation are on the verge of becoming the law of the Atlas, untouched and unadulterated no less. My only regret is that this comes at the price of hurting the environment.

[migrendel]

I changed my vote and did what I didn't want to do. I hope the president has the integrity to now do something he doesn't want to do.