Megan Lloyd Joiner
2651 16th St NW #507
Washington, D.C. 20009
October 21, 2003

The Honorable Senator Mike Dewine
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator DeWine,

I was a captive audience member this afternoon during your comments concerning the "Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003."; Having recently moved to Washington from Cincinnati, Ohio, I was disappointed, to say the least, in your blatant disregard for medical fact. In addition, I was upset by your unwillingness to admit the political nature of your words and actions when it comes to abortion politics and specifically the passage of this bill.

I do not believe that it is the purpose or place of the United States Congress to ban safe medical procedures. The only people who have the right to decide what is best for a woman in the tragic circumstance of a problematic pregnancy are the woman herself, her family and her doctor. Today’s vote sets a dangerous precedent for the interference of the political and religious views of legislators with the medical profession and with the sanctity of patient-doctor relationships.

With your comments and vote today, you have set the stage for American women to once again become the innocent victims of legislation that endangers our health, our lives and our freedom. I believe that by limiting a woman’s right to choose, the US Senate undermines the freedom and values upon which this great nation was founded.

As a religious Unitarian Universalist from the heartland of our country, I share your concerns for the well being of our nation and her people. My faith teaches that each person is inherently worthy of respect. I firmly believe that the United States can become exactly the kind of nation we want to be, a nation that respects the worth of all its citizens, men and women alike, and one that upholds freedom as an inherent right of all people. The passage of this bill does not take us in that direction.

Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,

Megan Lloyd Joiner