A resolution condemning the use of violence against providers of health care services to women.

Thank you very much.

Madam President, I want to say to my friend, Senator Shaheen, that her words were eloquent here today and that her voice adds so much texture to the Senate. In a very plainspoken way, as is her way, Senator Shaheen has told us that regardless of where we stand on this issue, this contentious issue of a woman's right to choose, we should be able to come together when there is violence of any sort from any quarter, right, left, or center. There is no place for violence in any of our debates. That is what makes this such a great country. We debate here. We have had difficult debates here on the issue of a woman's right to choose. Yes, we have. But we decide those issues in this Chamber, in the House, at the White House, and across the street at the Supreme Court. And the Supreme Court has ruled very clearly, in 1973, in Roe v. Wade, that it is legal--legal--for a woman in the early stages of her pregnancy to make this tough choice and get the health care she needs. And, yes, later in the pregnancy, if her health is threatened, if her life is threatened, yes, a doctor can help her in that type of a circumstance.

Here we have many cases where violence is being used, where Web sites are being put up with pictures of doctors and nurses, trying to incite trouble, trying to incite violence, and that is not what the law allows.

With the case of Dr. Tiller, he was a doctor. After this tragedy where he was shot and killed in church--and before that, he had his arm shot, but he continued his work--many, many women came forward to attest to how kind he was to them in their great need.

Dr. Tiller operated within the law. There were those who tried to run him out of town with lawsuits, and he won all of those.

So when a procedure is legal and a doctor is following the rules, to have a murder of a doctor in that circumstance is a tragedy to his family, to his friends, to his patients, and, yes, frankly, to America because it diminishes us as a society.

I want to tell it like it is around here. Every Democrat cleared this resolution and said, yes, we ought to have a chance to bring it to the floor and be voted upon. That is all my colleague wants. She wrote a simple resolution. She read it to you. She wants a vote. Every Democrat said, yes, let's bring it to the floor. If you do not like it, you do not have to vote for it. If you want to change it, make an amendment to change it.

But the Republicans will not clear this resolution. Now, I have to say to the people who may be listening to this debate, hear what I am saying. The Republicans will not allow a vote, will not clear a resolution that simply says, in the resolve clause--and I quote from it--we express ``great sympathy for the family, friends and patients of Dr. George Tiller.'' We recognize ``that acts of violence should never be used to prevent women from receiving reproductive health care,'' and we condemn ``the use of violence as a means of resolving differences of opinion.''

I think my colleague, in her eloquence here, has said it all. I urge those people who are anonymously holding up this resolution, come to the floor, have the courage and the guts to look out at this Chamber and explain why you do not believe we should condemn acts of violence to prevent women from receiving their health care, and come to the floor and explain why you are not ready to condemn the use of violence as a means of resolving differences.

This is the greatest democracy in the world. We will not be the greatest democracy in the world if we decide we are going to take the law into our own hands and kill people with whom we disagree.

So I beg my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to rethink their position because, I can tell you, anyone who does not know Senator Shaheen--she was the Governor of a State, she is a great Senator already--she is not going to give up on this. We are going to be here day after day. We are going to ask that this be brought before the body. And we are going to make those who are stopping us from voting on this come to the floor and explain why they cannot join with us.

We know abortion is a contentious issue. We appreciate that. We respect our colleagues' views. Frankly, I totally respect their views on the issue. But I do not respect someone who is anonymously holding up a resolution that condemns violence.

So I am going to work with my colleague. I am very proud of her work on

this. I am proud of Senator Klobuchar's work on this. And I want to thank every Democrat in this Senate who said, yes, this resolution is worthy of debate and worthy of a vote.

Madam President, I thank you very much and yield the floor.

Madam President, yesterday, along with Senators Boxer, Klobuchar, and 43 other Senators, I submitted S. Res. 187, a resolution condemning the use of violence against providers of reproductive health care services to women and expressing sympathy for the family, friends, and patients of Dr. George Tiller.

Unfortunately, the murder of Dr. Tiller was not an isolated incident. Our country has a history of violence against reproductive health care providers. Since 1993, eight clinic workers have been murdered, and there have been hundreds of additional attempted murders, bombings, death threats, and kidnappings. Since 1977, there have been more than 5,800 reported acts of violence against providers and clinics.

My own State has been touched by such acts of violence. In December 1994, a man from New Hampshire killed two workers at clinics in Massachusetts, including a nurse from Salem, NH. Almost 9 years ago, the Feminist Health Center in Concord, NH was burned in an arson attack. These acts of violence are not acceptable. Not only do they violate our laws and lead to human tragedy, but they dissuade medical professionals from entering a field of medicine that is critically important to women across the country.

I realize that the issue of reproductive choice is divisive. I know there are many heartfelt feelings on both sides of this issue and on both sides of the aisle, even within my own caucus. However, I was hopeful that regardless of our differences of opinion on this sensitive issue, the Senate could come together and quickly pass a resolution that rejects the use of violence against reproductive health care providers. Sadly, this is not the case.

My cosponsors and I have tried to pass this resolution by unanimous consent. Unfortunately, some on the other side of the aisle have objected. How disappointing it is that in this country and in this body, we can't come together to unanimously condemn the use of violence. My cosponsors and I were urged to eliminate references to women's reproductive health care to get this resolution passed through the Senate. We are not going to back down. This country should be able to come together to condemn violence against reproductive health care providers. It is a very sad day when the elected leaders of the greatest democracy on Earth cannot agree to protect those exercising their constitutional rights.

I am pleased to be joined by 45 of my colleagues on this important resolution. We are saddened that we are not able to pass it without objection.

I wish to now read this simple resolution, a resolution condemning the use of violence against providers of health care services to women.

Whereas Dr. George Tiller of Wichita, Kansas was shot to

death at church on Sunday, May 31;

Whereas there is a history of violence against providers of

reproductive health care, as health care employees have

suffered threats, hostility, and attacks in order to provide

crucial services to patients;

Whereas the threat or use of force or physical obstruction

has been used to injure, intimidate, or interfere with

individuals seeking to obtain or provide health care

services; and

Whereas acts of violence are never an acceptable means of

expression and always shall be condemned. Now, therefore, be

it Resolved, That the Senate expresses great sympathy for the

family, friends, and patients of Dr. George Tiller;

recognizes that acts of violence should never be used to

prevent women from receiving reproductive health care; and

condemns the use of violence as a means of resolving

differences of opinion.

I find it hard to believe that this language condemning the murder of a health care provider and expressing sympathy to a family in mourning could be objectionable.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, thank you very much.