WASHINGTON, D.C. -Yesterday, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) delivered remarks on the House Floor in opposition of the Protect Children's Innocence Act. During her remarks, Rep. Salinas highlighted the detrimental effects that this will have on the youth mental health crisis. Rep. Salinas voted in opposition to the legislation.

Click here to watch Rep. Salinas' full remarks.

A transcript of Salinas' floor speech is available below:

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this disgusting bill that does nothing to protect children's innocence.

It endangers parents, health care providers, and children. It allows health care providers and parents to be fined and possibly jailed if they help a minor access lifesaving care, and it permits federal law enforcement to act as the "national gender police", allowing them to invade children's private medical records.

This bill puts even more children in harm's way and exacerbates the mental health crisis that our young people are facing, because it stops them from actually receiving the care that they need right now.

Madam Speaker, why is our focus on this when what I'm hearing from constituents is that Republicans are falling short in addressing the cost of groceries, health care, and housing?

To my Republican colleagues, why not focus on the issues that will impact millions of families who are just one paycheck away from homelessness or losing their health care, instead of waging a war on children's genitals? What is this unhealthy obsession?

Let's end it today by voting no on H.R. 3492.

I yield back.

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