House Speaker Pelosi criticized Republicans for co-sponsoring a bill that bans abortion from conception, saying many GOP members need a “lesson in the birds and the bees” as they don’t seem to understand reproductive issues.
When asked about Republicans rushing to condemn the Alabama abortion ruling but then backing a bill with the same effect, Pelosi said the “Life at Conception Act” plainly bans abortion from fertilization so they must know its meaning.
“I want to ask about this bill. It was so wild to me to watch them all rushed out with the statements, which I understood. Obviously there’s a political crisis. 90% of Americans found the Alabama ruling awful. And then to just Google, the fact that they get a majority of cosponsors on this bill that just plainly does what Alabama does. Do you think they know that they are on that bill? Like, are they pretending to not know? Like, what’s going on?” Chris Hayes asked.
She noted an alternative bill from Rep. Wild and Sen. Duckworth would statutorily protect access to IVF and family building, empowering the Justice Department to act against those depriving women of reproductive rights.
Pelosi said, “Let’s see what the title is, Life at Conception Act. So they have to know what that means. I’ve said for years that people on the other side of the aisle need a lesson in the birds and the bees because sometimes they don’t seem to understand. But the fact is that 125, and majority of the House GOP, are co-sponsors of this legislature.”
“That doesn’t mean there aren’t more who won’t be supporting it,” she said.
She added, “But it comes such an interesting time. Instead we have in the House a place for them all to go if they disagree with the Alabama decision. Congresswoman Susan Wild of Pennsylvania has introduced a bill with Senator Duckworth in the Senate, a corresponding bill called the Access to Family Building Act.”
“This would enable families to have the statutory right to have access to the technology and the rest invitro fertilization. It also empower the Justice Department to act upon those who would deprive women of those rights,” she said.
