Transcript of Pelosi Remarks at Press Event Sharing Stories on Consequences of Extreme GOP Attacks on Reproductive Health Care

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosijoined the Democratic Women's Caucus and the Pro-Choice Caucus for a press event sharing the stories of people impacted by Republicans' extreme efforts to criminalize abortion. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Hello, everyone. Good morning.

So it's a pleasure to join all of you here today: devoted leaders and advocates. I've said so many times that, internally, we can just get so much done with our inside maneuvering. It's the outside mobilization that makes a difference – improves the quality of our legislation. And that's why we're here today: to hear stories from the outside. But to sing the praises of those who are doing the work, working with groups, giving hope to people, because people are scared about what the Supreme Court did.

As we gather to lift up the stories of women across the nation, I just want to call attention to the priority that the Women's Caucus and all of us have for Brittney Griner. We thank the President for making that a priority in negotiations, to have her set free from a who-knows-what kind of trial under a who-knows-what kind of an arrest. But she has visited the Capitol. She is someone to be admired. And we thank her for her sportsmanship and her excellence there, but – and her wife Cherelle and their entire family and thank the President. And I know the Secretary of State will be having that in his negotiations with the Russian Minister of Foreign Policy – Foreign Affairs – whatever they call it there.

Today, the Democratic Women's Caucus and Pro-Choice Caucus are shining a light on the GOP's twisted vision of America. Emboldened by the Supreme Court, they are waging a – the Republicans in Congress are waging a dark crusade of punishment and control. They don't believe in birth control, but they do want to control the lives of women in our country.

Here in Congress, House Republicans are calling for a national abortion ban, voting almost unanimously against a woman's right to choose and the enshrinement of Roe v. Wade into law and even the right to contraception – the right to contraception. As I said to them on the Floor, ‘Do you know what's going on in your own families, in your own homes?'

In state capitals, Republicans are already tearing away reproductive freedoms and targeting the right to cross state lines. And Republicans voted against preventing that from happening. Because their agenda is about more than abortion and birth control. Again, it's about controlling women.

Amid this assault on freedoms, Democrats are putting People Over Politics. We're ferociously defending the right to make decisions about women's health, their bodies, their lives. Proudly voting to make Roe v. Wade the law of the land, reaffirm the freedom to travel where you want and see who you want, and establish a federal right to use birth control.

As we fight to enact these protections, the American people are overwhelmingly on our side – outraged by the GOP's anti-woman, anti-American agenda. The Democratic women of the House are gathered here, in the halls of Congress, to say loudly and clearly: we are not going back! We are not going back!

So now, our purpose here is to share stories. Allow me to share a story from Physicians for Reproductive Health – and thank them for their leadership. It's about a doctor who encountered a young patient, just 13 years old. This little girl had been assaulted by her mother's boyfriend. By the time her mother discovered the abuse and sought out care, the girl was 23 months – excuse me, 23 weeks pregnant. The doctor looked at this child wearing a Mickey Mouse sweatshirt – a little girl – and later said she could not imagine going through such a trauma, only to be told: ‘You must deliver this baby.'

This is the kind of unimaginable pain Republicans want to inflict across the country. Just think of that family. Just think of the abuse of that child. Just think of the complicity of the Republicans in Congress in that abuse.

It's now my honor and privilege to yield tothe Assistant Speaker, Katherine Clark.