Sen. Daniel Inouye says he is insulted that Republican Rep. Mike Kelly, Pa., likened the federal health care mandate that will provide free birth control for women in the U.S. to the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Here’s an excerpt from Inouye’s statement: 

“I witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor and had the privilege of serving in the United States Army during World War II and I find the comments made by the Congressman from Pennsylvania to be misguided and insulting. 

“It is complete nonsense to suggest that a matter discussed, debated, and approved by the Congress and the President is akin to a surprise attack that killed nearly 2,500 people and launched our nation into the second World War or a terrorist attack that left nearly 3,000 dead and led to fighting and dying in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

According to NBC News, here’s what Kelly said that prompted Inouye’s reaction: “I know in your mind you can think of times when America was attacked. One is December 7th, that’s Pearl Harbor day.  The other is September 11th, and that’s the day of the terrorist attack. I want you to remember August the 1st, 2012, the attack on our religious freedom. That is a day that will live in infamy, along with those other dates.”

— Adrienne LaFrance