Democrat congresswoman accuses 'sex-starved' male colleagues of interfering in the abortion debate
The House of Representatives was momentarily stunned after California Democrat Rep. Norma Torres accused "sex-starved males" of interfering in the debate surrounding abortion.
During a debate over a spending bill for health and human services programs, the third term congresswoman said: "It is tiring to hear from so many sex-starved males on this floor talk about a woman's right to choose."
While her comments elicited groans from inside the chamber, a trio of aides seated behind her didn't even look up from their smartphones, Daily Mail reports.
Torres was then asked by Republican Rep. Rob Woodall of Georgia if she would like to modify her statement in keeping with House rules that allow lawmakers to do so.
Torres said she would, but repeated the same offensive remark in her response.
"Mr. Speaker, I would just like to ask my friend if she'd like to change her last statement," Woodall inquired.
"Mr. Speaker, if it pleases my colleague on the other side, I will withdraw my statement about sex-starved males on the floor," she said.
The second reiteration elicited a brief intervention from the chair, who then offered Torres a second chance to pull back her controversial comment.
"I will agree to withdraw my statement regarding..." she said. "Mr. Speaker, I want unanimous consent to withdraw my statement."
But with her words 'withdrawn,' she continued her tirade. "It is tiring to be here on this floor or in committee, as a woman, to continue to be counseled about what types of affordable family planning conversations that rightfully I deserve to have with my own doctor," she said.
"Choosing when women want to have a family and to avoid pregnancies before they become pregnant," according to her, is something that "continues to be denied to American women day in and day out on this floor."
According to reports, the House was debating a provision that prevented government spending for Trump administration regulation that permits medical professionals to refuse abortions or contraception based on "conscience and religious freedom."