scan the code of the road to pre-order your copy today for early spring delivery. it's 29 95 plus shipping and handling. every searches help support the nonprofit operations at c-span shop dot org. >> c-span has your unfiltered view of government. funded by these television companies and more, including charter communications. >> charger is proud to be recognized as an internet provider. we are just getting started building 100,000 miles of new infrastructure to reach those who need it most. >> charter communications support c-span as a public service, along with the other television providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy. >> vice kamala harris marks the 50th anniversary of the roe v. wade abortion decision. here is a look at her comments.

>> thank you. where are you? there she is she left the stage. always on the stage. we love all of our front line folks. and this room is filled with them. filled with them good afternoon everyone, it's good to be back in florida and tallahassee.

in the house. so, before we talk about the subject for which we are all convening, argue want to address the tragedy of what happened in my home state in monterey park, california. a time of a cultural celebration. yet, another community has been torn apart by -- so, duggan i join the current president of dr. biden i, i know everyone here in mourning for those who were killed, as we pray for those who are injured, and as we grieve for those many people whose lives are forever changed. all of us in this room and in our country understand, the violence must stop. and president biden and i, and our administration will continue to provide full support to the local

authorities. as we learn more. and with that, i want to address another topic, which is the reason we all enjoyed it together today. i am honored to be with members of the united states congress who are here, state and local elected officials. glad to be with you. and all of the coalition partners who are represented here. give it up for everybody we are here together, collectively we believe and know america is a promise. america is a promise. it is a promise of freedom and

liberty. not for some, but for all. a promise we made at the declaration of independence. we are each endowed, with the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. be clear, these rates were not bestowed upon us, they belong to us as americans. and it is that freedom and liberty that enabled generations of americans to chart their own course. and decide their own a future.

with ambition aspiration. therein lies the strength of our nation. since our founding, we have then been on a march forward. to fully realize our promise, to complete the unfinished work, to secure freedom and liberty for all. now these outcomes will not be inevitable. they will not just happen, they take steadfast determination and dedication. the kind of determination and dedication possessed by some of our greatest patriots. those americans who fought a

civil war to end the sin of slavery. organized at seneca falls to secure a woman's right to vote. who launched the freedom ride to advance civil rights and spoke out at the stonewall inn to defend human rights. in each of these movements. those leaders expanded rights, which advanced the cause of freedom and liberty. and 50 years ago today, so did those who won a fight in the united states supreme court to

recognize the fundamental constitutional right of a woman to make decisions about her own a body. not the government. for nearly 50 years, americans relied on the rights that roe protected. today, however, on what would've been the 50th anniversary, we speak on the roe decision in the past tense. because last june, the united states supreme court took away that constitutional right, a fundamental right, a basic freedom from that people of

america from the women of america. the courts action has meant already that many dedicated doctors and nurses now lose their ability to care for their patients. that providers risk going to jail just for doing their job. and that patients are denied critical care and even fear that they will be punished simply for seeking care. . it has meant that a ten year old child, in ohio, who was sexually assaulted and became pregnant had to leave her home how to leave her home state and travel to another to receive care. it has meant that the doctor

who treated her face death threats. and efforts to take away her medical license. and for amanda, a 35 year old woman in texas, it meant, in the midst of a miscarriage, she was denied a treatment three times in three days at an emergency room because of that states abortion ban. and only after she developed sepsis, an infection that almost killed her, to the hospital finally admit her. thank god amanda survived, and she, with her husband josh, is here today.

[applause] and i want to thank them both for having the courage to tell their story in a way that will inspire so many individuals and their families to know they are not alone. the consequences of the supreme court's ruling are not only limited to those who need reproductive care, other basic health care is at risk. consider emma, a 14 year old who lives in arizona. so, emma manages her chronic arthritis with medication that allows her to go to school and live without constant sequences. but the medication that helps her can also cause pregnancy loss. so within weeks of the dobbs decision, her pharmacy initially refused to fill her prescription.

afraid that they could be prosecuted under the states radical law. all of these devastating experiences, the direct result of laws designed by extremists, including in states like florida. last year, so-called leaders at the state house here in tallahassee, passed a radical abortion ban with no exceptions, even for the survivors of crimes like rape and child molestations and human -- human trafficking. here in florida, health care providers face prison, prison for up to five years for simply doing their job.

and now, the state has also targeted medication abortion. even threatened florida pharmacists with criminal charges. if they provide medications prescribed by medical professionals. florida is not alone. 22 states have announced that they will not follow new federal rules that allow women to get medication prescribed by their doctor from a certified pharmacy. imagine. so today, we are fighting back. i am pleased to announce president biden, i'm announcing today, has issued a presidential memorandum on this

issue, members of the cabinet and our administration are now directed as of the presidents order to identify barriers to access, that prescription medication, and to recommend actions to make sure that doctors can legally prescribe, let pharmacies can dispense, and that women can secure safe and effective medication. president biden has done that, at the same time, that we work to protect this aspect of reproductive care, many states have gone even further. i now have total bans in effect alabama, missouri, and south dakota just to name a few.

as clinics close in those states, understand, as clinics are closing in those states, patients have lost access to other basic care. such as routine checkups. cancer screenings. and contraception. to everyone listening, be sure that no one is immune from the impacts. even in states that protect reproductive rights like new jersey, illinois, oregon. even then people live in fear of what might be next. because republicans in congress are now calling for a nationwide abortion ban. some even from the moment of conception.

the right of every woman in every state in this country, to make a decisions about her own body on the line. and i have said it before, i will say it again, how dare they! how dare they! and you know, there is a collection of words that mean everything to us as americans. the heart words of our great national anthem. that america is the land of the free and the home of the brave. but let's let us ask, can we truly be free? if a woman cannot make decisions about her own body? >> no! >> can we truly be free if the

doctor cannot care for her patients? >> no! >> can we truly be free if families cannot make intimate decisions about the course of their own lives. >> no! >> and can we truly be free if so-called liters claim to be, quote, i quote, on the vanguard of freedom, while they there to restrict the rights of the american people and attack on the very foundations of our freedom. understand clearly, the majority of americans, the majority of americans opposed these attacks. americans of every background,

in every community, has voice their perspective. from kansas to california, michigan, montana, kentucky, and vermont. they spoke with their vote. in essence, one does not have to abandon their faith, and deeply held beliefs to those who agree that the government should not be telling people what to do with their own bodies. a so know this, president biden and i agreed, and we will never back down, we will not back down. and we know, we know this fight will not be won until we secure this right for every american. congress must pass a bill that

protects freedom and liberty. [applause] a bill that protects reproductive rights and president biden will sign it! so yes, america is a promise. a promise we must all make real. in every state, in every community, in every state house, and every doctors office, and yes, and every election. to all be friends and leaders, i say let us not be tire or discouraged to. you are on the right side of history.

we will continue to stand together in the fight to protect the freedom and liberty of all people, of all women everywhere. here now, on this 50th anniversary, let us resolve to make history and secure this great. today, i invite all americans to join us and to remember, when we fight, we win. thank you all! may god bless you, and may god bless america. thank you all.

>> ladies and gentlemen, we ask you please, remain in the building when. please remain in the building, thank you.

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