Representative Randy Neugebauer, a conservative Republican from Texas, revealed on Monday that he was the lawmaker who shouted “baby killer” on the House floor Sunday night as Representative Bart Stupak, a Michigan Democrat, discussed abortion-related aspects of the health care legislation.

In a statement, Mr. Neugebauer, a third-term member of the House from Lubbock, said he was caught up in the passions of the moment and was not referring to Mr. Stupak personally but the health care measure itself.

“In the heat and emotion of the debate, I exclaimed the phrase ‘it’s a baby killer’ in reference to the agreement reached by the Democratic leadership,” Mr. Neugebauer said. “While I remain heartbroken over the passage of this bill and the tragic consequences it will have for the unborn, I deeply regret that my actions were mistakenly interpreted as a direct reference to Congressman Stupak himself.”

Mr. Neugebauer said he had apologized to Mr. Stupak and regretted his outburst. “The House chamber is a place of decorum and respect,” he said. “The timing and tone of my comment last night was inappropriate.”



The comment came at the end of a tense weekend that saw protesters yell racial and sexual slurs at Democratic lawmakers outside the Capitol, but Mr. Neugebauer’s charged comment was on the floor itself.

He was angry over a White House pledge to issue an executive order prohibiting the use of federal dollars to pay for abortions under the legislation, an agreement that won the support of anti-abortion Democrats like Mr. Stupak and allowed passage of the measure.

As Sunday’s exhausting day-long session ended about midnight, lawmakers who were aware of who had shouted during Mr. Stupak’s remarks would not identify him.