Speaker Ryan Says He’ll Pressure Senate to Restrict Women’s Reproductive Rights

Racine, WI – Democratic congressional candidate Randy Bryce released the following statement on Speaker Ryan’s promise this week to pressure the Senate to pass a bill that would restrict women’s reproductive rights. Bryce is running to replace Ryan in Wisconsin’s First Congressional District.

“Paul Ryan’s promise to pressure the Senate into passing a bill that would restrict women’s rights is just the latest in a long line of anti-women actions from the Speaker. While Ryan has opposed paid family leave and equal pay,  I’ve spent twenty years fighting alongside my sisters in the labor movement for the economic rights of women and working families. We need someone who will fight for everyone representing Wisconsin’s First District in D.C.”

Ryan’s History of Anti-Women Legislation

Speaker Ryan Promised on Thursday to Pressure Senate to Pass A Bill With No Scientific Basis that Would Restrict Women’s Reproductive Rights. Ryan said during an interview Thursday, “I really believe that we’ve got to put pressure on the Senate to put these [Pain Capable and Born Alive] bills through – and I think if we do put the right kind of pressure, we can get these things through.” The Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is based on “the belief that at 20 weeks, fetus develops the ability to feel the pain inflicted through an abortion… The bill acknowledges ‘the position, asserted by some physicians, that the unborn child is incapable of experiencing pain until a point later in pregnancy than 20 weeks’—yet it conveniently downplays this: It is not ‘some physicians’ that believe 20 weeks is too soon for a fetus to experience pain, it’s the majority of them.” (10/3/2017)

“In 2006, [Ryan also] co-sponsored legislation to require doctors to tell women that a fetus could feel pain at 20 weeks and advising medication for the fetus to stop its pain during an abortion — a measure intended to emotionally intimidate women seeking abortions. “(10/11/2012)

Ryan Voted Against Equal Pay Legislation. “Ryan repeatedly voted against legislation guaranteeing women equal pay in the workplace, including the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that President Obama signed into law in 2009.” (10/29/2015)

Ryan Voted Against Paid Parental Leave. “Before he was officially elected speaker of the House, Ryan said that he ‘cannot and will not’ give up his family time for the position; however, he doesn’t support paid family leave for every American. He voted against the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act in 2009, which would have allowed federal employees to use paid leave as paid parental leave. Ryan’s solution to family leave was the Working Families Flexibility Act that he co-sponsored — instead of just offering employees paid family leave, the Working Families Flexibility Act would have given private-sector workers paid time off only after they had worked overtime. The chair of Iowa’s Democratic Party, Dr. Andy McGuire, said in a DNC conference call Thursday: ‘You shouldn’t have to be the speaker of the House to spend time with your family.’” (10/29/2015)

Ryan Voted to Narrow the Legal Definition of Rape to ‘Forcible Rape’. “Ryan co-sponsored legislation with Missouri congressman and now Senate candidate Todd Akin that would narrow the legal definition of rape to ‘forcible rape.’ Ryan has since walked back this vote since being nominated for vice president and in the wake of the controversy surrounding Akin’s ‘legitimate rape’ comments, but he didn’t bother clarifying his position before the controversy swelled. “ (10/11/2012) Ryan also supported banning abortions in the case of rape and incest, going back to his first run for Congress in 1998. (8/12/ 2012)

About Randy Bryce

Randy Bryce is a U.S. Army veteran, cancer survivor, and union ironworker. He was raised in southeastern Wisconsin, and went to public schools. Randy’s father was a police officer, and his mother worked in a doctor’s office. After graduation, Randy enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was posted to Honduras, where he earned the Army Achievement Medal. After returning stateside, Randy was diagnosed with cancer, which he survived, but only after struggling through the bankruptcy that came with the medical bills. Once in remission, Randy found his way to an apprenticeship as an iron worker, a trade he’s now been practicing and fighting to protect from anti-labor laws for nearly 20 years. Randy currently resides in Caledonia, WI with his son, Ben, who attends public schools like his dad. Randy joined the race for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District in Summer 2017.

Randy Bryce for Congress

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.