Statement on Reproductive Freedom

I am pro-choice but do support banning late term abortions, and all post-viability abortions, unless the woman's life is at risk or the procedure is necessary to protect the woman from grievous injury to her physical health.

Let me say first, that I respect the deeply held views of those who oppose abortion in any circumstances. This is a difficult issue and I have always believed that the decisions in this area are best handled by the individuals involved, guided by their own beliefs and unique circumstances, rather than by government mandates.

Second, like most Americans, I would prefer to live in a world where abortion is unnecessary. For the foreseeable future, reducing the number of abortions through family planning, counseling and avoiding unintended pregnancies is a goal widely shared.

Third, my view of the legislation banning the particularly troubling late term abortion called "intact D & E procedure," has been intentionally and dishonestly distorted. Let me be perfectly clear: this procedure should be banned after viability except in two specific and narrow situations. In fact, there should be a ban on all abortion procedures after viability -- around the 24th week of pregnancy -- except in these same two specific and narrow situations:

* One situation is if the life of the woman is in danger. I believe that if no other medical procedure can save a woman's life, other than this procedure, then a doctor, the woman and her family should have all medical options available, including this procedure.

* The other exception I support protects the woman from "grievous, physical injury." That is a very narrow definition of the exception necessary to protect the physical health of the woman -- and it should be. I have specifically voted for the Daschle Amendment, legislation which exactly reflects this position.

Any legislation dealing with any reproductive procedure, including late term abortion, must allow doctors to use their best medical judgment in situations where a woman's life is at risk or where she might suffer grievous consequences to her physical health.

I have made a top priority of providing access to quality health care for all Americans, especially women and children. I will work to keep the federal government generally out of legislative decisions which are best made at state and local levels of government. And, I will work to keep the federal government generally out of personal, private and painful decisions, such as abortion, which are best handled by a woman, her doctor, her family, and her conscience.

I believe abortion should be rare, safe, and legal and I will continue to seek common ground in the middle of this divisive debate. Lastly, let me again reiterate my respect for the views held on all sides of the abortion issue.