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IT MAY TAKE, I BELIEVE WITH ALL
MY HEART THAT THIS COUNTRY WILL
HAVE A RENEWAL OF RESPECT FOR
LIFE, INCLUDING FOR THE UNBORN.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER, AND I
YIELD BACK.
--
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD
TO JEAN SCHMIDT, GENTLELADY FROM
OHIO.
SHE HAS BEEN OUT IN FRONT
SPEAKING ON DEFENSE OF THE
UNBORN AND THEIR MOTHERS.
THANK YOU FOR
THOSE KIND WORDS.
MR. SPEAKER, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
ABORTION, WE THINK OF THIS AS A
40-YEAR-OLD MOVEMENT.
WE THINK ABOUT 1973 IN ROE V.
WADE AND THAT WAS THE CATALYST
TO MOVE THIS MOVEMENT FORWARD.
PIONEERS AND LEADERS HAVE COINED
THE PHRASE RIGHT TO LIFE.
MR. SPEAKER, WE FORGET THAT THIS
IS NOT A 21ST CENTURY ISSUE.
THIS IS A CENTURY'S OLD ISSUE.
IT WAS ACTUALLY THE SUFFRAGISTS
WHO TALKED ABOUT WOMEN'S RIGHTS,
THE RIGHT TO VOTE, THE RIGHT TO
OWN PROPERTY, THE RIGHT TO
SPEAK, THE RIGHT TO RUN FOR
PUBLIC OFFICE, TO ALSO TALK
ABOUT THE RIGHT TO LIFE.
TO THESE WOMEN, THE VERY CONCEPT
OF FEMNISM DEMANDED THE BASIC
RIGHTS BE EXTENDED TO EVERYONE
WITHOUT EXCEPTION INCLUDING THE
UNBORN AND REJECTING THE USE OF
FORCE TO CONTROL OR DESTROY ONE
ANOTHER PARTICULARLY AMONG THE
MOST VULNERABLE AND DEFENSELESS
OF THE POPULATION.
SO TO THEM, THE ACT OF ABORTION
WAS MUCH MORE THAN HARM IMPOSED
ON A WOMAN AND HER CHILD.
IT WAS A FRONTAL ASSAULT ON
WOMANHOOD AND NEW ASSAULT TO THE
CAUSE -- OF THE UNDERPINNINGS OF
THEIR CAUSE.
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS?
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT
THEIR WRITINGS AND LOOK AT
PEOPLE LIKE SUSAN B. ANTHONY WHO
WROTE EXTENSIVELY ABOUT ABORTION
WHO CALLED IT ***.
AND SHE WROTE, GUILTY, YES, NO
MATTER THE MOTIVE OR THE WOMAN
IS GUILTY WHO COMMITS ABORTION.
IT WILL BURDEN HER CONSCIENCE IN
LIFE.
IT WILL BURDEN HER SOUL IN
DEATH.
THE FIRST FEMALE CANDIDATE FOR
PRESIDENT STATED THAT QUOTE,
EVERY WOMAN KNOWS THAT IF SHE
WERE FREE SHE WOULD NEVER BEAR
AN UNWISHFUL CHILD NOR THINK OF
MURDERING ONE BEFORE ITS BIRTH.
AND SARAH NORTON WHO CHALLENGED
CORNELL UNIVERSITY, WOULD THERE
EVER COME A TIME FOR THE RIGHT
OF THE UNBORN TO BE BORN WILL
NOT BE DENIED OR INTERFERED
WITH.
AND ALICE PAUL, THE AUTHOR OF
THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.
SHE STATED, ABORTION IS THE
ULTIMATE EXPLOITTATION OF WOMEN.
YOU KNOW, I COULD TALK ALL NIGHT
ABOUT THIS, BUT WE HAVE WOMEN'S
HISTORY MONTH IN MARCH AND I
HOPE TO SPEAK MORE ON THE
HISTORY OF WOMEN AND THE HUMAN
RIGHTS PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT,
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT
HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL,
IT'S ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL
INDIVIDUALS, THE UNBORN, THE
BORN AND THE ELDERLY.
AND SO I THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM
NEW JERSEY FOR HOSTING THIS
FORUM TONIGHT.
I APPRECIATE HIS LEADERSHIP IN
THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO FORGE AHEAD
UNTIL EVERYONE IN AMERICA HAS
THE RIGHT TO LIFE.
I YIELD BACK.
I THANK MY FRIEND FOR
HER STATEMENT AND LEADERSHIP.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO TWO WHO
TOOK THE BATON FROM JERRY MORAN.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS SMITH.
I HAVE WATCHED FROM AFAR FOR
MANY YEARS AND REAL TREASURE TO
SPEAK HERE TONIGHT AND JOIN HIS
EFFORTS AND IN MY OPINION AND
OPINION OF MANY AMERICANS ONE OF
THE GREATEST TRAGEDIES IN THE
HISTORY OF OUR NATION.
THE DIRECT DEATH AND *** OF
MORE THAN 50 MILLION AMERICANS
SINCE 1973.
AND FAR TOO OFTEN, TOO MANY
FAMILIES TURN TO ABORTION AS THE
ONLY OPTION WHEN THEY DISCOVER
THEY ARE UNSPECKEDLY PREGNANT.
SITUATIONS EXIST THAT THEY ARE
OVERWHELMING TO SAY THE LEAST.
BUT ABORTION IS NOT THE ONLY
OPTION AVAILABLE TO THESE WOMEN
AND TO THEIR FAMILIES.
MY WIFE AND I HAD THE JOY AND
PRIVILEGE OF ADOPTING FOUR
CHILDREN.
AND TWO OF THOSE CHILDREN ARE
FROM THE COUNTRY OF HAITI AND
TWO OF THE OTHERS WERE
AMERICANS.
INCIDENTALLY, MY OLDEST WHEN SHE
WAS YOUNG SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE
THAT BABIES ARRIVED VIA STORK
BUT ARRIVED ON AIRLINES BECAUSE
OUR SECOND TWO WERE PICKED UP AT
THE AIRPORT.
BUT THAT REMINDS ME OF ANOTHER
STORY, DADDY, CAN'T WE TELL THEM
TO DO ADOPTION, NOT ABORTION.
YES, WE CAN, AND THAT'S THE
MESSAGE I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
SURE WE SUPPORT BECAUSE IT IS
THE UNREPORTED SIDE OF THE
PRO-LIFE COIN.
IF WE ARE GOING TO ENCOURAGE
WOMEN NOT TO ABORT BABIES, WE
ALTERNATIVES.
NEED TO SUPPORT OTHER
THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE ADOPTING
CHILDREN AND OFFERING THEIR
SERVICES PARTICULARLY THROUGH
EMERGENCY CENTERS AND OFFERING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CHILDREN
AND WOMEN AND FAMILIES AND THERE
ARE MILLIONS OF AMERICANS TODAY
THAT ARE AWAITING A CHILD.
THEY ARE AWAITING A CHILD AND I
WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE AMERICANS
TO CONSIDER ADOPTION.
LET ME SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THOSE
WHO MIGHT BE CONSIDERING
ABORTION, THERE ARE
ALTERNATIVES.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES.
THERE ARE CARING AMERICANS THAT
WOULD LOVE, WOULD LOVE TO
PARTICIPATE IN ADOPTION AND
WOULD LOVE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
AND I'M A PROUD CO-SPONSOR OF NO
TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR ABORTION.
THE LEADER ABORTION PROVIDER IN
STATISTICS.
THE COUNTRY AND THESE ARE STARK
IN THE LAST YEAR AVAILABLE,
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF AMERICA IN
2008, THEY PERFORMED, THEY
COMMITTED, THEY SLAUGHTERED MORE
THAN 324,000 GIRLS AND LITTLE
BOYS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY,
324,000.
THEY PARTICIPATED IN 2,405
ADOPTIONS.
324,000 ABORTIONS, LESS THAN
2,500 ADOPTIONS.
THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS.
ADOPTION IS THE OPTION.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE CONSIDER
TO DEFUND AN INDUSTRY THAT IS
NOT CONCERNED WITH THE WOMEN,
NOT CONCERNED WITH THE FAMILIES.
BUT LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION
TOWARDS THOSE ACROSS AMERICA
THAT HAVE GIVE CREN THEIR HEARTS
AND HOMES AND OPEN THEM UP TO
OUR YOUNGEST MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.
WITH THAT, I YIELD BACK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
STATEMENT AND EMPHASIS ON
ADOPTION, ALTERNATIVE THAT IS
OFTEN FORGOTTEN AND PROVIDES A
MEANS OF BUILDING A FAMILY.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA.
THANK YOU TO MY
COLLEAGUES OF BRINGING THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE TO THE HOUSE
FLOOR THIS EVENING AND
APPRECIATE ALL THE OTHER
COMMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE
AS THE CHAIRMAN AND PUBLIC
POLICY BACK IN INDIANA, I DO
REMEMBER THE TIME WHEN MY WIFE
AND I WERE EXPECTING OUR
SECOND-BORN.
AND WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH
PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION IN INDIANA
AND HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO
HOME AND TO SEE THE ULTRASOUNDS
EXPERIENCE.
OF OUR SECOND-BORN WAS QUITE THE
AND I KNOW THAT WITH THE
ANNIVERSARY OF ROE VERSUS WADE
COMING UP, THIS IS AN ISSUE ON
THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF
AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO, TODAY, AS WE REMEMBER 38TH
ANNIVERSARY OF ROE VERSUS WADE
AND THE MILLIONS OF INNOCENT
LIVES TAKEN SINCE 1973.
IN 2008 ALONE, THERE WERE OVER
1.2 MILLION ABORTIONS, THAT IS
3,315 INNOCENT CHILDREN BORN PER
DAY, ABOUT TWO EVERY MINUTE.
WHILE I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT
FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL PLAY
ALONGSIDE THE DRED-SCOTT
DECISION, THERE IS WORK BEFORE
US.
ALL OF THAT BEGINS WITH A SINGLE
INQUIRY.
A SIMPLE QUESTION FORMS THE
CORNSTONE OF THE NATIONAL
DEBATE, WHEN DOES HUMAN LIFE
BEGIN.
WITHOUT THAT, WE ARE LEFT WITH
EMPTY RHETORIC.
WHEN DOES HUMAN LIFE BEGIN?
THIS IS NOT A PHILOSOPHICAL
ENDEAVOR.
SCIENCE HAS GIVEN US THE ANSWER.
THEY UNDERSCORE THE FACT THAT IT
IS FROM THE MOMENT OF
FERTILIZATION AND IT IS HUMAN
AND VALUABLE.
THOSE WHO IGNORE REALITY OUGHT
TO REMEMBER JOHN ADAMS, THAT
FACTS ARE STUBBORN THINGS.
BECAUSE UNIQUE HUMAN LIFE BEGINS
AT THE MOMENT OF FERTILIZATION,
IT IS OUR DUTY TO DEFEND THE
UNBORN, SPEAK UP FOR THE WEAK,
TO CONTINUE WITH FIRMNESS AND
THE RIGHT.
I PROUDLY SUPPORT HOUSE
RESOLUTION 212, SANCTITY OF
HUMAN LIFE ACT, WHICH DEFINES
HUMAN LIFE ACCORDINGLY AND
AFFIRMS THAT EACH STATE HAS THE
THE AUTHORITY TO PROTECT ALL
HUMAN
WE ARE STILL DEDICATED THAT ALL
POSSESS THE INALIENABLE RIGHT
TO LIFE.
THANK YOU AND I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR
FINE STATEMENT.
AND VERY STRONG COMMITMENT TO
THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE.
I'D LIKE TO NOW ASK OR YIELD TO
ANN MARIE BUERKLE WHO IS BOTH A
NURSE BUT ALSO GOT HER LAW
DEGREE SO SHE BRINGS THE --
BOTH THE LAW AND THE MEDICINE
TO THIS EQUATION.
I YIELD TO HER.
BURKE BURKE THANK YOU, THANK
YOU TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM --
THANK YOU TO THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
MR. SPEAKER, THIS COMING
SATURDAY MARKS THE 38TH
ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE.
A DECISION THAT FUNDAMENTALLY
ALTERED THE MORAL LANDSCAPE OF
AMERICA.
FOR MUCH OF THOSE 38 YEARS I
HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE
PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT.
BOTH AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE
UNBORN AND A COUNSELOR OF
TROUBLED WOMEN AND TEENS, THE
UNSPOKEN SECOND VICTIMS OF
ABORTION.
AS WE REFLECT UPON THIS
SOBERING ANNIVERSARY AND THE
TREMENDOUS LOSS OF LIFE THAT IT
HOPE.
REPRESENTS, I SEE REASONS FOR
ATTITUDES ARE CHANGING AND MORE
AND MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
REJECTING ABORTIONS AS A CHOICE
FOR THEIR LIVES.
TECHNOLOGY HAS OPENED
REMARKABLE WINDOWS TO THE WOMB.
SO MUCH OF THE EARLY PRO-LIFE
MOVEMENT EMERGED FROM A
FRUSTRATION OF THE TIME.
NO ONE SEEMED TO BE LISTENING
AND WE TRIED TO GET PEOPLE TO
CARE.
NOW TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS THE 4-D
ULTRASOUND IMAGING HAS AIDED US
IN OUR REQUESTS TO PRESERVE
LIFE, SHOWING WOMEN THAT THEIR
UNBORN IS NOT A CLUMP OF CELLS
BUT A CHILD THAT THEY CAN SEE
RUBBING HER EYES OR SUCKING HIS
THUMB.
AS WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE
UNBORN WE MUST NOT CEDE THE
GROUND WE HAVE LOST.
THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND
AFFORDABLES CARE ACT
CIRCUMVENTS THE HYDE AMENDMENT
BY ALLOWING GOVERNMENT
SUBSIDIES IN MEDICAID, FEDERAL
EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS AND
INTERNATIONAL AID TO BE USED TO
COVER ABORTIONS.
FOR OVER 30 YEARS THE DEMOCRATS
AND REPUBLICANS HAVE WORKED
TOGETHER EACH YEAR TO ENSURE
THAT TAXPAYER DOLLARS DO NOT
SUBSIDIZE ABORTION.
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
REPRESENTS A DEPARTURE FROM
THAT COMPACT.
SPECIFICALLY THIS LAW WILL
ALLOW $11 BILLION IN TAXPAYER
FUNDS TO BE USED FOR ABORTIONS
IN COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES.
IN ADDITION TO THE FEDERAL
SUBSIDIZING OF ABORTIONS
THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, I JOIN OTHER PRO-LIFE
MEMBERS OF THIS CONGRESS IN
EXPRESSING MY CONCERNS ABOUT
THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO
PERFORM ABORTIONS.
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF IOWA IS
DISPENSING THE ABORTION-CAUSING
DRUG THROUGH A TELL
CONFERENCING SYSTEM RESULTING
IN MORE THAN 1,900 ABORTIONS.
OUR FOREFATHERS UNDERSTOOD THAT
ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT
THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR
CREATOR WITH CERTAIN
INALIENABLE RIGHTS, AMONG THESE
ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
AMONG THESE THE MOST
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IS THE RIGHT
I YIELD BACK.
TO LIFE.
THANK YOU.
I THANK THE
AND HER LEADERSHIP.
GENTLELADY FOR HER STATEMENT
YOU KNOW, THIS CLASS, AND I
THINK THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE THIS,
OF 87 MEMBERS ELECTED ON THIS
SIDE OF THE AISLE,
OVERWHELMINGLY PRO-LIFE AND
MORE PRO-LIFE WOMEN THAN EVER
NOW SIT AS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
IT IS REALLY VERY ENCOURAGING.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD TO MY GOOD
FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE FROM
ILLINOIS, BOB SCHILLING.
THANK YOU,
REPRESENTATIVE.
THANK YOU, MR. SPEAKER.
FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK
DURING THIS SPECIAL ORDER, THE
SUBJECT OF LIFE.
TODAY I STAND TO SPEAK FOR
THOSE WHO CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEM
SELVES.
AS A FATHER OF 10 LIFE IS A BIG
ISSUE AT MY HOUSE.
AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
MY DAUGHTER RACHEL CAME TO ME
AND MY WIFE AND LOOKED AT ME
WITH TEARS IN HER EYES AND
SAID, HEY, DADDY, WHO'S GOING
TO PROTECT THE UNBORN CHILDREN?
CHOSE TO RUN FOR CONGRESS,
THAT WAS A BIG PART OF WHY I
ALONG WITH ALL OF THE OTHER
THINGS.
TODAY I WAS A PROUD -- I WAS
PROUD TO BECOME AN ORIGINAL
CO-SPONSOR OF THE NO TAXPAYER
FUNDS FOR ABORTION ACT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TAXPAYER
FUNDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
AVAILABLE FOR ABORTION, YOU
KNOW, EVEN SOME OF MY
PRO-CHOICE FRIENDS DISAGREE
WITH TAXPAYER FUNDING OF
ABORTION.
THIS BILL IS VERY IMPORTANT, IT
MAKES PERMANENT THE HYDE
AMENDMENT, THE HELMS AMENDMENT,
THE DORNER AMENDMENT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ONE
OF MY COLLEAGUES SPOKE ABOUT
EARLIER IS, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING
ABOUT LOOKING AT ADOPTION AS AN
ALTERNATIVE TO ABORTION.
YOU KNOW, A STORY THAT STICKS
IN MY MIND TODAY IS I WENT TO A
CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER IN
ILLINOIS AND THESE ARE FOLKS
WHO ENCOUNTER CRISIS
PREGNANCIES AND THE LADY WAS
TELLING ME THE STORY OF A YOUNG
LADY WHO WAS GOING IN FOR AN
ABORTION AND SHE THOUGHT SHE'D
COME TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE
INFORMATION AND THEY DID A
SONOGRAM AND THE BABY WAS
LAYING STILL AND IT WAS DOWN
TOWARD THE END OF THE SONOGRAM
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT BABY
JUST CAME TO LIFE AND PUT ON A
SHOW FOR MOM.
AND THAT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY
EYE WHEN I HEARD THAT STORY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT LIFE, WITHOUT
LIFE WE HAVE NOTHING.
AND, YOU KNOW, A BIG REASON
THAT I AM PRO-LIFE IS THAT WHEN
WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE DOCTORS,
ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO COULD
INVENT SOMETHING FOR THIS
GREATATION THAT -- GREAT
NATION, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER
GROWING UP AND IN 1973 WHEN
THIS BECAME LEGAL IT WAS
CONSIDERED A BLOB OF TISSUE.
TODAY WE PULL THEM OUT BY THEIR
FEET FIRST TO SAVE THE LIFE OF
THE MOTHER WHEN THE MOTHER'S
LIFE IS IN DANGER AND, YOU
KNOW, I JUST CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE
WHAT TRANSPIRES THERE AND
SOMETIMES DON'T WANT TO.
BUT I BELIEVE AS AMERICANS WE
NEED TO DEFEND LIFE TO ITS
FULLEST.
I BELIEVE LIFE BEGINS AT
CONCEPTION AND IT ENDS AT OUR
NATURAL DEATH.
YOU KNOW, FAMILIES AND FRIENDS
AND I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO
HAVE HAD ABORTIONS, THE HURT
THAT GOES THROUGH WITH WOMEN
WHO HAVE HAD ABORTIONS, YOU
KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO IF HE
CUSS IN ON EDUCATING FOLKS AND
GIVING THEM THAT ALTERNATIVE
AND MAYBE EVERY PLANNED
PARENTHOOD OUT THERE SHOULD
HAVE TO DO SONOGRAMS MAYBE EVEN
IN A 3-D SERIES.
BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE AN
ISSUE THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO
MY HEART AND I REALLY DO THANK
THE CONGRESSMAN HERE FOR
PUTTING THIS EVENT TOGETHER AND
LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH
HIM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
THANK YOU.
FOR YOUR GREAT STATEMENT.
YOUR COMMENT ABOUT YOUR CHILD
BABY?
SAYING, WHO WILL DEFEND THE
I REMEMBER A WOMAN OF THE NAME
OF GENE GARDEN WHO WAS
PREPARING A SLIDE SHOW OF
ACTUAL ABORTIONS WHICH ARE
HIDEOUS TO BEHOLD, BUT IT IS A
REALITY THAT HAS TO BE
UNDERSTOOD TO KNOW WHAT
ABORTION REALLY IS.
AND A YOUNG CHILD WALKED IN AND
SAID, MOMMY, WHO BROKE THE
BABY?
LOOKING UP AT THE SHATTERED
BODIES OF UNBORN CHILDREN.
FROM THE MOUTH OF CHILDREN, THE
TRUTH IS SPOKEN.
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME BACK TO THE
HOUSE, AS WE ALL DO, STEVE
PIERCE, A MEMBER FROM THE NEW
MEXICO -- A MEMBER FROM NEW
MEXICO, WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE
YOU BACK.
I THANK THE
APPRECIATE HIS CONSTANT
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY AND
LEADERSHIP IN THIS ISSUE OF
LIFE.
YOU KNOW, OUR FOUNDING FATHERS
TOLD US THAT LIFE, LIBERTY AND
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS WERE
TREASURED VALUES IN THIS
COUNTRY.
I THINK THAT IT WAS NO ACCIDENT
THAT THEY PLACED LIFE AT THE
BEGINNING OF THAT ORDER.
IT'S EASY TO BELIEVE THAT ANY
SOCIETY IS JUDGED FOR ITS
QUALITY, BASED ON ITS
THOSE WHO ARE MOST FRAGILE,
WILLINGNESS TO BE A FORCE FOR
THOSE WHO HAVE THE LEAST
STANDING IN THAT SOCIETY AND IN
THIS SOCIETY AND ALL SOCIETIES
NONE ARE WITH A QUIETER, LESS
OBVIOUS VOICE THAN THE UNBORN.
SO OUR WILLING TONS STAND UP
AND SUPPORT THEM -- SO OUR
WILLINGNESS TO STAND UP AND
SUPPORT THEM IS A MARK ON THE
QUALITY OF OUR CULTURE AND WE
NEED TO DO MORE.
TODAY IN SANTA IF HE, ELSEWHERE
AROUND THE COUNTRY, PRO-LIFE
CITIZENS JOINED IN A MARCH FOR
LIFE.
WHILE MY SCHEDULE FOR VOTES
HERE TODAY PREVENTED ME FROM
BEING THERE, I'M HAPPY TO
ASSOCIATE MY VOICE WITH THEM
TONIGHT AND IN THE MONTHS TO
COME.
SINCE ROE V. WADE WAS DECIDED,
OVER 50 MILLION LIVES HAVE BEEN
TERMINATED THROUGH ABORTION.
GREAT STRIDES HAVE BEEN MADE
LEGISLATIVELY, NOW WRONG TO
TAKE A MINOR ACROSS A STATE
LINE, THE PARTIAL BIRTH
ABORTION PROCESS HAS BEEN
BANNED.
SOME STATES HAVE PASSED LAWS
REQUIRING A 24-HOUR WAITING
PERIOD.
BUT MUCH IS LEFT TO BE
ACCOMPLISHED.
ULTIMATELY THE QUESTION COMES
UP ABOUT WHEN DOES LIFE BEGIN?
THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES
DECIDED THE CASE ACTUALLY
EXPRESSED THAT CONCERN
THEMSELVES, ABOUT WHEN LIFE
BEGAN.
BUT THAT WAS A DISCUSSION OF
DECADES AGO.
SCIENCE TODAY LEAVES NO DOUBT
THAT D.N.A. IS ESTABLISHED ON
DAY ONE AND NEVER CHANGES
THROUGH THE BABY'S LIFE.
THE SONOGRAM IS EVOLVING OUR
NATION'S VIEW ON ABORTION AS WE
SPEAK.
FOR MANY WHO HAVE BEEN EDUCATED
IN OUR UNIVERSITIES THEY
BELIEVE LIFE BEGINS AT BIRTH.
BUT THE YOUNG WHO ARE LOOKING
AT THE SONOGRAMS AND SEEING
THAT HEARTBEAT WITHIN THE FIRST
FEW DAYS RECOGNIZE THAT THEY
CAN NO LONGER BELIEVE THAT THIS
IS SOME MASS OF TISSUE WITH
INCONSEQUENTIAL MATTERS AT
RISK.
AND SO THIS NATION IS BEGINNING
TO BECOME MORE PRO-LIFE DAY
BIDET.
AND THAT'S A BLESSING BECAUSE
IN THE END EVERY SOCIETY WILL
BE JUDGED BY ITS WILLINGNESS TO
SPEAK FOR THOSE WITH NO VOICE.
AGAIN, I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FROM NEW JERSEY AND I'M PROUD
TO ADD MY VOICE TO THOSE WHO
SPEAK FOR THE MOST FRAGILE, THE
UNBORN, MAY GOD BLESS THIS
COUNTRY AND MAY GOD BLESS THE
MOTHERS OF THIS COUNTRY.
MR. PEARCE, THANK
THANK YOU.
YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH.
I'D LIKE TO YIELD TO MY GOOD
FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE IN
THE CONGRESS OR A LARGE NUMBER
-- ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF
MEDICAL DOCTORS, OB-GYN'S AND
OTHERS WHO ARE OVERWHELMINGLY
PRO-LIFE.
DR. ROE FROM OHIO IS AMONG
THEM.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FROM FOR YIELDING AND, MR.
SPEAKER, AS AN OBSTETRICIAN AND
GYNECOLOGIST, I'VE DELIVERED
CLOSE TO 5,000 BABIES AND
STRONGLY SUPPORT THE SANCTITY
OF LIFE.
USING TECHNOLOGY LIKE THE 3-D
ULTRASOUNDS HAS GIVEN US
WINDOWS TO THE WOMB THAT SHOW
THE UNBORN CHILD AS LIVING,
BREATHING HUMAN BEING.
I'VE LOOKED THROUGH THAT WINDOW
WITH MY OWN EYES NUMEROUS TIMES
AND I'VE SEEN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OCCUR FROM THE EARLIEST STAGES
OF THE TINIEST EMBRYO ALL THE
WAY THROUGH BIRTH WHICH
STRENGTHENS MY CONVICTION IN
THE RIGHT TO LIFE.
LIFE IS A PRECIOUS MIRACLE FROM
GOD THAT BEGINS AT CONCEPTION.
ITS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND
PRIVILEGED A LEGISLATORS TO
PROTECT THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE A
VOICE.
I WILL ALWAYS FIGHT FOR THE
RIGHT TO LIFE BECAUSE IT IS MY
CONVICTION THAT WE ARE ALL
UNIQUE CREATIONS OF A GOD WHO
KNOWS US AND LOVES US BEFORE WE
ARE EVEN CONCEIVED.
TONIGHT WE MARK ONE OF THE MOST
TRAGIC, MISGUIDED SUPREME COURT
CASES IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY,
ROE VERMONT WADE.
SINCE 19 -- ROE V. WADE.
SINCE 1973 MORE THAN 50 MILLION
BABIES HAVE BEEN DENIED THE
RIGHT TO LIFE.
WE MUST MAKE OUR LAWS CONSIST
WENT OUR SCIENCE AND RESTORE
FULLY LEGAL PROTECTIONS TO ALL
OF THOSE WHO ARE WAITING TO BE
BORN.
IF GOVERNMENT HAS ANY
LEGITIMATE FUNCTION AT ALL, IT
IS TO PROTECT THE MOST INNOCENT
AMONG US.
FOR OVER 30 YEARS CONGRESS HAS
PREVENTED TAXPAYER-FUNDED
ABORTIONS.
UNFORTUNATELY THIS DOOR HAS
BEEN RE-OPENED WITH THE PASSAGE
OF OBAMACARE, THE LARGEST
EXPANSION SINCE THE PICK OF
IN OUSE REPUBLICANS
TOLL ROE V. WADE DECISION.
IN THE PLEDGE TO AMERICA VOWED
FOR APPEAL AND REPLACED THIS
LEGISLATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY COLLEAGUES TO MAKE SURE THIS
PROMISE IS KEPT.
IT IS ONLY BY MAKING GOOD ON
THIS OATH THAT WE CAN EXPECT TO
RESTORE THE TRUST THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE IN THEIR
OWN GOVERNMENT AND IN DOING SO
ENSURE THAT THE DOOR TO
TAXPAYER-FUNDED ABORTIONS
REMAIN CLOSED.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE HOPE
CENTER IN GREENVILLE,
TENNESSEE, WHO SPONSORED BY THE
FIRST BAPTIST MINISTRIES WHO
SUPPORT LIFE.
THESE PEOPLE DO A WONDERFUL JOB
IN MINISTERING YOUNG MOTHERS
WHO MAY BE SINGLE OR MARRIED TO
PRESERVE LIFE.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE ON THE
HOUSE FLOOR TONIGHT WITH MY
FRIEND AND OTHER LEGISLATORS
FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF THE
UNBORN AND I WANT TO THANK THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY WHO
LITERALLY SOMEONE OF THE
LEADERS AND HEROS IN THE
PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT.
I CAPTAIN SAY ENOUGH TO DO WHAT
HE HAS PROMOTED THE
RIGHT-TO-LIFE MOVEMENT.
I HAD SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT
CHILDREN I HAVE DELIVERED.
AND I HAVE SEEN THOSE CHILDREN
GROWN UP IN JOHNSON CITY,
TENNESSEE.
AND THE BEAUTY OF IT IS, YOU
COACH THESE KIDS IN LITTLE
LEAGUE BALL AND WATCH THEM GROW
GRADUATE.
UP AND COME TO YOUR HOME AND
AND THE PEOPLE I HAVE SEEN HAD
BEEN YOUNG DOCTORS, NURSES AND
TEACHERS AND COLLEGE ATHLETES
AND NEWSPAPER WRITERS AND NEWS
DIRECTORS, ALL OF THESE YOUNG
PEOPLE I HAVE DELIVERED AND SEEN
GROWN UP IN THE WORLD WOULD NOT
BE A BETTER PLACE IF THEY WERE
NOT HERE.
THE WORLD WOULD BE A MUCH WORSE
PLACE.
AND THINK ABOUT HOW MANY
THOUSANDS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS
AND MILLIONS OF THE SAME PEOPLE
I JUST DELIVERED THAT I WATCHED
GROW UP IN MY COMMUNITY THAT ARE
NOT HERE TODAY BECAUSE OF THIS
TERRIBLE LAW.
I DO WANT TO MENTION ONE THING
MEDLEY THAT WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT
A THIRD TRIMESTER ABORTION TO
SAVE A WOMAN'S LIFE.
AND LET ME MAKE THIS CLEAR.
THERE IS NO MEDICAL INDICATION
WHATSOEVER FOR A THIRD TRIMESTER
ABORTION, PERIOD.
LET ME SAY THIS ONE MORE TIME
AND I WILL DEBATE THIS ANY TIME
WITH ANY DOCTOR IN THE WORLD,
THERE IS NO MEDICAL INDICATION
ON THIS EARTH FOR A THIRD
TRIMESTER ABORTION.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN.
I'M ENCOURAGED ABOUT THE DEGREE
THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
CHANGING THEIR MINDS AND I THINK
IF WE KEEP TALKING AND CHANGING
AND EXPLAINING, WE WILL CHANGE
THIS TERRIBLE LAW.
AND I YIELD BACK.
THANK THE GOOD MAN
FOR YIELDING AND FOR HIS
LEADERSHIP.
ANOTHER OB-GYN WHO HAS BEEN
THERE WHO KNOWS HOW FRAGILE THE
LIFE IS OF AN UNBORN CHILD IS.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD TO JIM
LANKFORD FOR HK -- BEING HERE.
I RISE IN SUPPORT
OF ONE OF THE BASIC FUNCTIONS OF
ANY GOVERNMENT.
3,000 YEARS AGO, A MOM TAUGHT
HER SON A KING TO BE A WISE
RULER AND SHE SAID SPEAK FOR
THEMSELVES.
THOSE WHO CANNOT SPEAK FOR
235 YEARS AGO, OUR FOUNDERS
WROTE A DESPERATE KING, WE HOLD
THESE TRUTHS AND ENDOWED BY
THEIR CREATOR WITH GIN ALIENABLE
RIGHTS WITH LIFE, LIBERTY AND
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.
THIS TRUTH IS SO OBVIOUS, SO
CLEAR THAT THEY CALLED
ITSELF-EVIDENT.
BUT IN AMERICA, MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE CANNOT PURSUE HAPPINESS
AND CANNOT APPRECIATE LIBERTY
BECAUSE THEIR FIRST GOD-GIVEN
RIGHT WAS DENIED, LIFE.
IN RECENT DAYS, THE DISCUSSION
FROM THE LEFT HAS TURNED TO
REDUCING THE NUMBERS OF
ABORTION.
I APPLAUD THIS LINE OF THINKING,
BECAUSE IT ADMITS ONE THING,
ABORTION IS WRONG.
IT DESTROYS THE LIFE AND
DEFICIENT STATES THE FUTURE OF A
MOM.
I ASK, WHY SHOULD ABORTION BE
REDUCED IF IT'S JUST ANOTHER
MEDICAL PROCEDURE TO REMOVE
UNWANTED TISSUE FROM A WOMAN?
IF IT'S TISSUE, WHAT DOES IT
MATTER?
NO ONE SAYS WE NEED TO REDUCE
THE NUMBER OF SKIN MOLES OR
WARTS THAT ARE REMOVED.
THAT IS UNCONSCIONABLE.
WHY?
BECAUSE A WART IS UNWANTED
TISSUE.
A FETUS, THAT'S A BABY.
WE CAN USE FETUS OR DIVIDING
TISSUE OR EMBRYO OR SIMPLY GIN
EMBRYO.
VENS, BUT NO ONE SAYS HOW IS THE
NO ONE HEARS, EXCUSE ME, I JUST
FELT THE FETUS KICK.
AND NO ONE SAYS, HERE IS A GIFT
FOR YOUR INCONVENIENCE.
SAY WHAT YOU WANT, WE KNOW
THAT'S A BABY.
DECADES AGO, WE CANNOT LOOK INTO
THE WOMB.
PEOPLE WERE TOLD IT WAS LIKE A
CHICKEN EMBRYO, BUT NOW WE CAN
LOOK IN AND SEE A CHILD KICKING
HER FEET, SUCKING HER THUMB AND
COUNT HER FINGERS AND TOES AND
WATCH A TINY HEARTBEAT.
A AT 20 WEEKS, WE CAN SAY BOY OR
GIRL.
WHY?
BECAUSE IT'S A CHILD, NOT JUST
AN EMBRYO.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ADULT AND
CHILD IN THE WOMB IS JUST TIME
AND THEY ARE A PERSON WHO MUST
BE GIVEN THEIR MOST BASIC OF ALL
HUMAN RIGHTS, LIFE.
I SUPPORT THE FINDING OF LIFE AT
CONCEPTION.
I SUPPORT ADOPTION AND CRISIS
PROSECUTING NANCY CENTERS THAT
ARE DOING -- PREGNANCY CENTERS.
WHY IN AMERICA IS IT THAT TAXES
ARE MORTIFIED AT THE THOUGHT OF
ABORTION AND REQUIRED TO GIVE
THEIR TAX MONEY TO FUND
ABORTIONS ACROSS THE WORLD.
WHEN A CONSTITUENT SAYS, WHY ARE
MY TAXES SO HIGH, I HAVE TO SAY,
BECAUSE YOUR GOVERNMENT IS
SPENDING YOUR MONEY ON ABORTION
FUNDING AROUND THE GLOBE.
WHY ISN'T THIS CHAMBER TODAY, WE
DEBATED FOR HOURS, AN INFANT
SHOULD BE GUARANTEED HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE BUT SOME OF THE SAME
INDIVIDUALS WHO DEMAND INSURANCE
PROTECTION FIND NO ISSUE KILLING
THAT INFANT WHEN IT'S IN THE
WOMB.
EARLIER TODAY, A CLINIC IN
PHILADELPHIA WAS RAIDED WHERE A
PHYSICIAN WAS ARRESTED FOR FULLY
DELIVERING INFANTS, SIX, SEVEN,
EIGHT MONTHS IN THE PREGNANCY
AND STABBING THOSE CHILDREN WITH
SCISSORS.
TODAY.
THIS IS THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
THIS ISN'T OPPRESSING WOMEN OR
DENYING CHOICE BUT PROTECTING
THAT EVERYONE IS ENDOWED WITH
INALIENABLE RIGHTS WITH LIFE.
INDIVIDUALS IN THIS CHAMBER LAID
RULING.
THE FOUNDATION FOR A COURT
FOR DECADES SINCE, LEGISLATEORS
IN THIS CHAMBER HAVE PROTECTED
INSECTS, AND RARE FLOWERS, BUT
WE REFUSE TO PROTECT CHILDREN.
MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON OUR NATION
AND MAY WE AWAKEN WHAT THOSE
POLICIES HAVE DONE TO OUR
NATION.
WE WOULD RATHER PROTECT OUR
FUNDRAISING AND LEADERSHIP THAN
PROTECT THE UNBORN CHILD.
THIS IS NOT A DIFFICULT CHOICE
AND WE SHOULD CHOOSE LIFE.
I YIELD BACK MY TIME.
I THANK FOR YOUR
POWERFUL STATEMENT.
AND I YIELD TO MY GOOD FRIEND
AND COLLEAGUE FROM GEORGIA, DR.
PAUL BRAUN.
-- BROUN.
I THANK THE GENTLEMAN
FOR YIELDING.
MR. SPEAKER, I BELIEVE THE
GREATEST SMALL ISSUE WE FACE AS
A NATION IS THE KILLING OF 4,000
UNBORN CHILDREN EVERY SINGLE DAY
FOR ABORTION.
MR. SPEAKER, GOD CANNOT CONTINUE
TO BLESS AMERICA WHILE WE ARE
KILLING THESE CHILDREN.
THEY'RE CHILDREN, THEY ARE
BABIES, HUMAN BEINGS.
WHEN I CAME TO CONGRESS IN 2007,
THE FIRST BILL I INTRODUCED WAS
THE SANG ACTIVITY OF HUMAN --
SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE.
LIFE BEGINS WHEN THE *** CELL
ENTERS THE CELL WALL, THE EGG,
AND PRODUCES A ONE-CELL HUMAN
BEING.
THAT IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM
ITS MOM.
IT HAS EVERY FUNCTION, EVERY BIT
OF GENETIC MAKEUP TO BE A GROWN
HUMAN BEING IF WE NURTURE IT AND
ALLOW IT TO GROW AND ALLOW IT TO
LIVE.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A CRISIS
PREGNANCY CENTER.
WE HAD A YOUNG LADY WHO WAS
CONSIDERING AN ABORTION.
SHE CAME THERE AND SHE HAD AN
ULTRASOUND.
SHE WAS ABOUT 10 OR 12 WEEKS
ALONG.
I DON'T RECALL.
BUT EARLY ON, SHE FOUND OUT A
FEW WEEKS BEFORE SHE MISSED HER
PERIOD AND CAME FOR A PREGNANCY
TEST.
WHEN SHE SAW THAT ULTRASOUND,
HER EX CLAIMATION WAS, THAT'S A
BABY AND THAT'S WHAT WE SEE OVER
AND OVER AGAIN THAT THESE MOMS,
EXPECTANT MOMS WHEN THEY SEE THE
ULTRASOUNDS, SHE UNDERSTOOD IT
WAS A BABY.
IT'S A HUMAN BEING.
THERE'S NO GREATER FREEDOM, NO
GREATER LIBERTY THAN TO LIVE.
NO GREATER PROTECTION THAT WE AS
A GOVERNMENT CAN GIVE TO PROTECT
HUMAN BEINGS ALL THE WAY FROM
THE TIME OF FERTILIZATION UNTIL
THEY HAVE NATURAL DEATH.
YOU SEE, MR. SPEAKER, GOD
CREATES THOSE CHILDREN.
WE DON'T HAVE THE MORAL
AUTHORITY TO TAKE THEIR LIVES.
WE HAVE TO PROTECT THEIR LIVES.
IN A FREE SOCIETY, WHERE LIBERTY
IS HELD IN THE MIEST ESTEEM BY
EVERY -- IN THE HIGHEST ESTEEM
BY EVERY VIA IN THIS COUNTRY,
EVERY INDIVIDUAL IN THIS
COUNTRY.
THE RIGHT TO LIFE IS A
FUNDAMENTAL, FUNDAMENTAL FORM OF
LIBERTY.
WE HAVE TO PROTECT LIFE.
THAT'S THE REASON THE FIRST BILL
I INTRODUCED IN EVERY SINGLE
CONGRESS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MY
SANCTITY OF HUMAN LIFE ACT.
MY FRIEND AND FELLOW MEMBER FROM
CALIFORNIA, DUNCAN HUNTER
JUNIOR, HAS RE-INTRODUCED HIS
DAD'S BILL.
IT'S CALLED THE LIFE AT
CONCEPTION OF ACT.
I'M A CO-SPONSOR AS HE IS.
DUNCAN HUNTER I AS DUNCAN HUNTER
II.
WE HAVE TO STOP THIS TRAVESTY,
THIS AWFUL, HORRENDOUS ATTACK,
MORAL ATTACK ON OUR BASIC LIFE
AS HUMAN BEINGS AND THAT IS THE
RIGHT TO LIFE.
MR. SPEAKER, IF WE CANNOT
PROTECT LIFE, THEN WE CANNOT
PROTECT ANY LIBERTY, WE CANNOT
PROTECT ANY FREEDOM THAT OUR
FOUNDING FATHERS CREATE THE
CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT,
GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS.
WE HAVE HAD MANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES TONIGHT SPEAK THE
PREAMBLE THAT THOMAS JEFFERSON
PEN DED IN THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.
THOMAS JEFFERSON IS CONSIDERED
THE LEAST RELIGIOUS OF ALL THE
FOUNDING FATHERS, BUT HE
BELIEVED IN LIFE, THAT'S THE
REASON HE PENED IT THERE.
HE BELIEVED IN GOD.
YOU SEE, EVEN IF YOU DON'T
BELIEVE IN GOD, FROM A
SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE, THERE IS
ONLY ONE PLACE IN A PERSON'S
LIFE WHERE YOU CAN DRAW A LINE
BETWEEN NO LIFE BEING THERE AND
LIFE AND HUMAN BEING AND
PERSONHOOD BEING ESTABLISHED AND
FERTILIZATION.
THAT'S AT THE TIME OF
ROE VERSUS WADE, IN THE
DECISION, WAS PREDICATED ON
THERE BEING NO LEGISLATIVE
DEFINITION OF THE BEGINNING OF
LIFE.
THAT'S THE REASON IT IS
ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE
DEFINE LIFE BEGINNING AT
FERTILIZATION, TO PROTECT THOSE
ONE-CELL HUMAN BEINGS.
IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT
EVERY PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY WHO
LOVES LIBERTY, WHO WANTS TO
PROTECT LIFE, CONTACT THEIR
CONGRESS PERSON AND THEIR
SENATORS AND SAY, WE HAVE TO
PROTECT LIFE.
WE HAVE TO PROTECT ALL OF OUR
GOD-GIVEN PREEMS, PARTICULARLY
LIFE.
-- FREEDOMS, PARTICULARLY LIFE.
I TOLD MY CONSTITUENTS AND I
TELL PEOPLE ALL OVER THIS
COUNTRY, CONTACT YOUR SENATOR OR
CONGRESSMAN, TELL THEM TO
SUPPORT THE SANCTITY OF HUMAN
LIFE BILL, MY BILL OR DUNCAN
HUNTER'S BILL.
JOIN IN IN THIS FIGHT BECAUSE
THERE IS NO GREATER MORAL ISSUE
THAT THIS COUNTRY FACES.
IF WE WANT GOD'S BLESSINGS UPON
AMERICA, WE HAVE TO PROTECT
THESE MOST VULNERABLE OF HUMAN
BEINGS, THE UNBORN CHILDREN.
IN PROVERBS, GOD SAYS, SPEAK FOR
FOR THOSE APOINTED TO DIE.
SPEAK UP FOR THOSE SPEECHLESS.
THOSE APOINTED TO DIE, WE DON'T
NEED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
WE NEED A LEGISLATIVE
DEFINITION, BEGINNING OF LIFE
THAT IT OCCURS AT FERTILIZATION.
AND ONCE WE HAVE THAT PLACED
INTO LAW, WE WILL STOP THIS
BLIGHT UPON OUR SOCIETY RKTS
THIS DARK ERA IN THE HISTORY OF
OUR NATION THAT BEGAN IN 1973,
WITH THIS AWFUL DECISION OF THE
SUPREME COURT CALLED ROE VERSUS
WADE.
WE HAVE TO PROTECT LIFE, WE HAVE
TO LIBERTY AND PROTECT EVERY
SINGLE HUMAN BEING GOD-GIVEN
RIGHTS AND PROTECTING LIFE IS
IMPORTANT, FROM FERTILIZATION TO
NATURAL DEATH AND I PROMISE I
WILL CONTINUE WITH EVERY BIT OF
MY BEING AND MANY OF OUR
COLLEAGUES, REPUBLICANS AND
DEMOCRATS ALIKE WILL CONTINUE TO
FIGHT FOR LIFE.
SO, MR. SPEAKER, IF WE WANT
GOD'S BLESSINGS UPON AMERICA TO
CONTINUE, WE HAVE TO END THIS
BLIGHT UPON AMERICA.
WE HAVE TO DEFINE LIFE AT THE
BEGINNING OF FEVERT LIZATION AND
PROTECT THE -- FERTILIZATION AND
CHILD.
PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN
AND MR. SMITH, I THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIRELESS FIGHT IN THIS
ISSUE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN A
STALWART IN THIS HOUSE FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS AND I APPRECIATE THE
GREAT WORK YOU HAVE DONE FOR
YEARS AND YEARS IN PROTECTING
LIFE.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU.
AND WE HAVE TO GET THIS --
KILLING OF THESE UNBORN CHILDREN
TO STOP.
.
AND I YIELD BACK.
I HOPE MY FRIENDS WHO TAKE THE
LISTENING.
OTHER SIDE OF THE ISSUE BEGIN
RE-EVALUATION.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A
AMERICA NEEDS TO TAKE A SECOND
LOOK, A LONG AND SUSTAINED LOOK
AT THE APPEAL ARGUMENTS OF THE
ABORTION RIGHTS SIDE.
ABORTION IS VIOLENCE AGAINST
CHILDREN.
IT DISMEMBERS A CHILD, IT
DECAPITATES A CHILD AND
CHEMICALLY POISONS A CHILD.
ONE OF OUR SPEAKER SAID
ABORTIONS BEING PROMOTED BY
PLANNED PARENTHOOD, RU-486
OPERATES IN TWO WAYS, THE FIRST
CHEMICAL STARVES THE BABY TO
DEATH.
SO THE CHILD IN UTERO, THE
CHILD IN THE WOMB CAN'T GET
NOURISHMENT TO CONTINUE LIVING
AND THE SECOND CHEMICAL BRINGS
ABOUT THE EXPULSION OF OF THE
BABY WHO IS USUALLY DEAD BY
THEN BUT ISN'T.
IF THAT IS NOT CHILD ABUSE, I
DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.
THIS IDEA LIFE BEGINS AT BIRTH
BELONGS IN ANOTHER ERA
ESPECIALLY WITH ULTRASOUND
TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE.
AS SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES
SAID, THE WINDOW TO THE WOMB.
MATTER OF FACT, IT SHOULD BE
NOTED EVEN THE LEADING PROCEED
ABORTION ACTIVISTS IN THE
1960'S AND 1970'S, DR. BERNARD
NATHANSON FROM NEW YORK, ONE OF
THE THREE CO-FOUNDERS OF NARAL
WHO IS ONE OF THE THREE GROUPS
IN THE COUNTRY, HE SAID HE
PRESIDED OVER 60,000 DEATHS TO
CHILDREN AS HE RAN THE LARGEST
ABORTION CLINIC IN NEW YORK
CITY.
HE WENT ON TO BECOME A
PRO-LIFER.
AND WHAT CAUSED THAT HUGE
CHANGE OF HEART BOTH IN HIS
MIND AND IN HIS HEART?
HE BEGAN DOING BLOOD
TRANSFUSIONS AND BEGAN TO SEE
THAT AN UNBORN CHILD IS A
PATIENT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER
PATIENT WHO MAY BE SICK, HAVE A
DISABILITY, THAT EARLY EFFORTS
AND INTERVENTIONS CAN BE
WHATEVER THAT ANOMALY BE.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT HE SAID HOW
CAN I BE IN ONE ROOM KILLING A
BABY WITH DISMEMBERMENT OR
POISON AND IN ANOTHER OPERATING
THEATER PROVIDING THIS PRENATAL
SURGERY.
HE SAW THE SCHIZOPHRENIA
INHERENT IN TREATING SOME
CHILDREN BECAUSE THEY'RE WANTED
AS BEING ACCEPTABLE AND WE
THROW-AWAYS.
WELCOME THEM AFTER UNWANTED OR
THE FEMINISTS HAD IT RIGHT WHEN
THEY SAID NO WOMAN SHOULD EVER
BE TREATED AS AN OBJECT.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE UNBORN
CHILD OF HE HAD OR SHE IS
UNWANTED IS TREATED LIKE AN
OBJECT AND A THROWAWAY AND NO
HUMAN LIFE IS A THROWAWAY.
LET ME SAY ABBY JOHNSON WHO
JUST RECENTLY, A LITTLE OVER A
YEAR AGO LEFT A PLANNED
PARENTHOOD DIRECTORSHIP IN
TEXAS.
WHAT CAUSED HER TO CHANGE?
SHE SAW AN ULTRASOUND ABORTION
IN REAL TIME AND SAID, I JUST
SAW THE BABY CRUMPLE RIGHT IN
FRONT OF MY VERY EYES.
AND YOU KNOW, IF THAT ISN'T A
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE, I DON'T
KNOW WHAT IS EITHER.
SHE BECAME A PRO-LIFER AND NOW
SPEAKS OUT VERY, VERY BOLDLY.
FINALLY, DR. ALVITA KING AS I
MENTIONED EARLIER IS DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING'S NIECE.
DR. KING HAD TWO ABORTIONS.
SHE WAS A, QUOTE, PRO-CHOICER.
SHE NOW IS ONE OF THE MOST
ELOQUENT PRO-LIFE LEADERS IN
THE UNITED STATES AND EVEN IN
THE WORLD.
SHE HAS SAID, HOW CAN THE DREAM
SURVIVE?
TALKING ABOUT HER UNCLE'S DREAM
OF INCLUSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS,
OF CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL, HOW
CAN THE DREAM SURVIVE, SHE
WRITES IF WE *** THE
CHILDREN?
SHE GOES ON TO TALK ABOUT HOW
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATION
IN THIS COUNTRY IS SO
DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETED BY
PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND OTHERS
AND THE NUMBER OF ABORTIONS FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICANS IS ABOUT FIVE
TIMES THE RATE OF CAUCASIAN AND
IT IS BECAUSE OF TARGETING AND
THERE ARE OTHER REASONS FOR
THAT AS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS
AND THAT'S WHERE THE PLANNED
FRANKLY.
PARENTHOOD CLINICS ARE,
ABORTIONS HURT WOMEN.
SHE MAKES IT SO CLEAR.
SHE IS ELOQUENT IN THEY ARE
DEFENSE AS ARE OTHERS IN THE
MINISTRIES TO WOMAN WHO HAD
ABORTIONS.
ONE THING ABOUT THE PRO-LIFE
MOVEMENT, AND I'VE BEEN IN IT
38 YEARS, I'VE BEEN IN CONGRESS
31 YEARS.
IT LOVES THEM BOTH.
IT SAYS TO BOTH THE MOTHER AND
TO THE BABY, WE WANT TO PUT OUR
ARMS AROUND YOU.
ASSISTANCE.
WE WANT TO HELP AND BE OF
AND TO ANY POST ABORTIVE WOMAN,
WE'RE ALL ABOUT TRYING TO HELP
AND ASSIST AND PROVIDE SOME
KIND OF PATHWAY TO
RECONCILIATION AND THAT'S WHERE
THE POST ABORTIVE WOMEN LIKE
DR. ALVETA KING PLAY A CRUCIAL
ROLE IN HELPING WOMEN WHO WOULD
FEEL SO DISENFRANCHISED AND
LEFT OUT.
I WANT TO THANK OUR LEADERSHIP,
SPEAKER BOEHNER, OUR MAJORITY
LEADER, ERIC CANTOR.
WE HAVE A VERY PRO-LIFE
LEADERSHIP WHO RECOGNIZES HOW
SACRED LIFE IS, HOW THIS
CONGRESS, THIS HOUSE NEEDS TO
DEFEND THE DEFENSELESS.
TOMORROW I WILL JOIN THE
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER AS HE
SPEAKS ON THE NO TAXPAYER
FUNDING FOR ABORTION ACT.
WE'LL BE HAVING A PRESS
CONFERENCE TOMORROW.
AND WE HAVE OVER 125
CO-SPONSORS.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN LEADERSHIP SO
DEDICATED TO PROTECTING
INNOCENT HUMAN LIFE AS THESE
INDIVIDUALS IN OUR LEADERSHIP.
AND I WOULD HOPE MY FRIENDS ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE
WOULD TAKE A LONG LOOK AT THE
CARNAGE, THE UNBELIEVABLE PAIN
AND AGONY AND SUFFERING
ABORTION HAS VISITED UPON
WOMEN.
IT IS NOT PRO-WOMEN.
ABORTION EXPLOITS WOMEN AND IS
CERTAINLY NOT PRO-CHILD EITHER
BECAUSE IT DECIMATED UNBORN
CHILDREN AS WELL SO WE HAVE A
GREAT LEADERSHIP, WE HAVE AN
EXCELLENT GROUP OF MEMBERS, MEN
AND WOMEN, DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS, AND I DO HOPE WE
WILL MOVE THIS HUMAN RIGHTS
ISSUE FORWARD.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE WITH US.
AND THIS IS THE GREATEST HUMAN
RIGHTS STRUGGLE EVER.
I YIELD BACK.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM MINNESOTA, MR. ELLISON,
FOR 27 MINUTES.
LET ME CLAIM THE
TIME AND I DO HAVE A FEW THINGS
TO SET UP, SO I'LL BE RIGHT
BACK.
MR. SPEAKER, LET ME THANK
THE SPEAKER FOR ALLOWING AND
GRANTING ME THE TIME.
IT IS A PLEASURE TO COME IN
FRONT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
MY NAME IS CONGRESSMAN KEITH
ELLISON.
AND I WANT TO TALK
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS TONIGHT, THE
MESSAGE WE CONVEY TO THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE EVERY WEEK AND
WE WANT TO COME BEFORE THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT
PROGRESSIVE VALUES AND THE 83
MEMBERS OF THE PROGRESSIVE
CAUCUS.
THE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS STANDS
FIRMLY IN THE POSITION OF
SUPPORTING HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
AMERICANS, AND THEREFORE WE
LOOK AT THIS REPEAL TODAY
CONDUCTED BY THE MAJORITY OF
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS AS QUITE
AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT IN OUR
NATION'S HISTORY.
THEY REPEALED THE HEALTH CARE
REFORM BILL BUT THE BILL IS NOT
REPEALED.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT HEALTH CARE
REFORM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED AND
IT IS THE LAW BUT IN ORDER TO
MAKE THE LAW INTO THE LAW, YOU
HAVE TO PASS IT THROUGH THE
HOUSE, THE SENATE AND THEN BE
SIGNED FOR THE PRESIDENT.
THIS REPEAL THAT THEY DID TODAY
STOPS HERE.
IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.
REALLY, IT'S POLITICAL THEATER.
BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT
INDICATION TO WHAT THEY WOULD
DO IF THEY COULD.
WHAT THEY WOULD DO, AND LET ME
-- THERE'S SOMETHING I WOULD
LIKE TO DESCRIBE RIGHT NOW SO
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE CAN GET AN
IDEA OF WHAT REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP AND REPUBLICAN -- OR
EXPANSION OF THEIR POWER WOULD
MEAN.
DEFICIT.
FIRST LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
DEFICIT.
YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE
AND THE DEFICIT IS IMPORTANT.
THE IMPACT OF REPEAL OF A
DEFICIT IS THAT IT WOULD
INCREASE THE DEFICIT BY $230
BILLION THIS DECADE AND $1
TRILLION THE DECADE AFTER THAT.
WHEN YOU LISTEN, MR. SPEAKER,
TO THE SPEECHES OF THE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, AND THEY SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT JOB-KILLING
DEFICIT, ALWAYS -- IT'S ALWAYS
IMPORTANT, MR. SPEAKER, TO TURN
YOUR ATTENTION BACK TO WHAT THE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS DID TODAY ON
THE HOUSE FLOOR BECAUSE IT
INDEPENDENT CAILTS HOW THEY
REALLY FEEL ABOUT -- IT
INDICATES HOW THEY REALLY FEEL
ABOUT EXPANDING THE DEFICIT.
IMPACT OF THE REPEAL OF THE
DEFICIT, EXPAND THE DEFICIT BY
$230 BILLION THIS DECADE AND $1
THILLION THE NEXT.
WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT
CREDIBILITY?
WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT REAL
INTENTIONS?
WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT WHO IS
ACTUALLY TRYING TO LOWER THE
DEFICIT?
HEALTH CARE REFORM IS
COST-EFFECTIVE AND HELPS LOWER
THE DEFICIT.
HEALTH CARE REFORM ACTUALLY
HELPS NOT ONLY LOWER THE
NATIONAL DEBT IN THE DEFICIT
BUT INDIVIDUAL AMERICAN
DEFICIT.
PEOPLE'S PERSONAL DEBT AND
WE CAN NEVER FORGET, MR.
SPEAKER, THAT 60% OF ALL OF THE
PEOPLE WHO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY
FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE OF
MEDICAL DEBT.
A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE FILING
FOR BANKRUPTCY FILE FOR
BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE OF MEDICAL
DEBT.
THIS IS AN AMAZING STATISTIC.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE
NATIONAL DEFICIT.
WE CAN EVEN TALK ABOUT THE
NATIONAL DEBT BUT LET'S TALK
ABOUT FAMILY DEBT.
FAMILY DEBT.
BEING DRIVEN SKY HIGH BECAUSE
OF MEDICAL DEBT.
PEOPLE GOING INTO BANKRUPTCY
BECAUSE OF MEDICAL DEBT.
NOW, WITH THE HEALTH CARE BILL
THAT WE WILL HAVE EXCHANGES
THAT WILL COMPETE AND HAVE
PRICE AND QUALITY TRANSPARENCY
FOR PEOPLE SO THEY CAN EVALUATE
A GOOD PRODUCT THAT'S
AFFORDABLE, SO PEOPLE WHO DON'T
HAVE THE INCOME CAN GET A
SUBSIDY SO THEY CAN GO BUY
HEALTH CARE INSURANCE.
WE HAVE ALL THESE IMPORTANT
PROVISIONS IN PLACE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE PEOPLE
GOING INTO PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY
BECAUSE OF MEDICAL DEBT.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS HAS NOT
TALKED ABOUT HOW AMERICANS ARE
DROWNING BECAUSE OF WHAT THE
INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAS IMPOSED
UPON THEM.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT
TODAY OUR REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES
REPEALED HEALTH CARE REFORM.
I HOPE, MR. SPEAKER, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE WATCH WITH
INTEREST WHERE THEIR PARTICULAR
MEMBER OF CONGRESS VOTED.
DID THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF
CONGRESS, MR. SPEAKER, VOTE TO
SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE'RE GOING
TO ALLOW THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES RESCIND YOUR
INSURANCE POLICY IF YOU GET A
BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS HAS RE
PEEL TODAY SAYS THEY WANT THAT
TO BE ABLE TO HAPPEN.
THEY WANT THE INSURANCE COMPANY
TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YOU, MA'AM,
WE FOUND OUT YOU HAVE BREAST
CANCER, YOUR INSURANCE IS GOING
TO BE RESCINDED.
THAT'S WHAT THEY VOTED IN FAVOR
OF TODAY BY VOTING FOR REPEAL.
TODAY THEY WANT TO TELL
25-YEAR-OLDS, 26-YEAR-OLDS, AND
THEIR PARENTS, YOU KNOW WHAT,
WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU BE
INSURANCE POLICY.
ON YOUR PARENTS' HEALTH CARE
YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN.
YEAH, WE KNOW IT'S A TOUGH
MARKET.
YEAH, WE KNOW GRADUATING FROM
COLLEGE OR HIGH SCHOOL NOW IS
NOT EASY BECAUSE THERE'S NOT
THAT MANY JOBS OUT THERE,
UNEMPLOYMENT IS STILL VERY HIGH
BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT, TOO BAD,
YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BENEFIT
AWAY FROM YOU THE CONGRESS HAS
ALREADY GIVEN TO YOU AND ***
IT OUT OF YOUR HAND.
THIS IS WHAT THE REPEAL MEANS.
TODAY SENIORS WHO CAN BENEFIT
FROM FREE PREVENTATIVE CARE,
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO
-- THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
INDICATED THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY
WANT.
THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN IT AWAY
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T REPEALED
THE LAW.
THEY'D LIKE TO BY THEIR REPEAL
THEY PASSED THROUGH THE HOUSE
TODAY BUT THE FACT IS THEY'RE
TELLING SENIORS, NO, NO, NO,
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY A
BIG COST IN ORDER TO GET
PREVENTATIVE CARE, WHICH
OBVIOUSLY WILL HELP --
ENCOURAGE LOW-INCOME SENIORS
NOT TO SEEK THAT CARE AND THEN
THEY, OF COURSE, WILL END UP
BEING SICKER AND IT WILL BE
MORE COSTLY.
BUT NOT ONLY BY REPEAL DOES IT
HURT SENIORS AND YOUNG PEOPLE,
THEY'RE TELLING SMALL BUSINESS
PEOPLE, YOU KNOW WHAT, THOSE
TAX CREDITS WE GAVE YOU, WE'RE
TAKING THEM BACK.
THOSE TAX CREDITS THAT THE
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS AND
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS AND SENATE
AND THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT
GAVE TO YOU, US REPUBLICANS, WE
DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT,
SMALL BUSINESS, WE WE'RE GOING
TO NATCH -- *** IT OUT OF
YOUR HANDS EVEN AFTER YOU HAVE
MADE PLANS TO TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION THE TAX CREDITS
AVAILABLE TO YOU THIS YEAR.
THEY'RE SNATCHING BENEFITS OUT
OF THE HANDS OF SMALL BUSINESS
PEOPLE, SNATCHING BENEFITS FROM
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE POSTHIGH
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE, SNATCHING
BENEFITS AWAY FROM OUR SENIORS,
SNATCHING COVERAGE AWAY FROM
.
PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT.
THIS IS WHAT THE REPUBLICANS
WILL DO IF THEY COULD.
THANK GOODNESS THEY CAN'T DO IT,
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT AND THE
SENATE REMAIN IN DEMOCRATIC
HANDS.
BUT IF THEY COULD, MR. SPEAKER,
IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT THEY WOULD
DO.
NOW, THE DEMOCRATS' TOP PRIORITY
IS NOT REPEALING ANYTHING.
IT'S STEPPEDING MORE RIGHTS,
MORE PROTECTIONS FOR THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND ALLOWING THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR
OWN CHOICE SO YOU CAN BE FREE AS
AN AMERICAN AND NOT HAVE TO
WORRY ABOUT HEALTH CARE BECAUSE
YOU HAVE HEALTH CARE BECAUSE THE
GOVERNMENT IS PROTECTING YOU
FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO
WOULD THROW YOU INTO THE STREET,
GIVE YOU AN OVERCOST PRODUCT AND
RESCIND YOU AND DENY YOU
COVERAGE.
THE DEMOCRATS' TOP PRIORITY
WOULD NOT BE TO UNDERMINE HEALTH
CARE BUT CREATE JOBS AND PUT
AMERICANS BACK TO WORK.
THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE
WORKING ON RIGHT NOW AND WOULD
WORK ON MORE SO IF WE HAD THE
MAJORITY.
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, THEY
HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES OTHER THAN
JOBS.
THEIR JOB AS THEY REVEALED, IS
TO REPEAL PATIENTS' RIGHTS TO
PUT INSURANCE COMPANIES BACK IN
CHARGE AND TO EXPLODE THE
DEFICIT AS I ALREADY INDICATED
WITH THIS PARTICULAR GRAPHIC.
THE REPUBLICAN PRIORITY IS TO
LOOK OUT AND PROTECT INSURANCE
COMPANIES, BE IT THE REPUBLICAN
PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE
INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE WHAT
THEY NEED.
AND THEY SPENT $14 MILLION A DAY
TO TRY TO DEFEAT HEALTH CARE
AFTER THEY, IN FACT, WERE
CARE.
DEFEATED AND WE PASSED HEALTH
WE WERE QUITE CONFIDENT THAT
THEY DID NOT TAKE THAT DEFEAT
LYING DOWN.
HERE THEY ARE BACK AGAIN WITH
THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, TRYING TO
DO THE BIDDING OF THE INSURANCE
INDUSTRY ONCE AGAIN.
THE PATIENTS' RIGHTS REPEAL AIMS
TO TAKE AWAY NEW HEALTH CARE
FREEDOMS THAT TAKE US BACK TO A
INDUSTRY.
SYSTEM THAT FAVOR THE INSURANCE
THE PATIENTS' RIGHTS REPEAL BILL
TAKES AWAY SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE
HAVE ALREADY EXPECTED TO GET AND
TAKES US BACK TO A SYSTEM IN
WHICH THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IS
IN CONTROL.
CHILDREN WITH PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS ARE DENIED COVERAGE.
YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 26 CAN'T STAY
ON THEIR PARENTS' INSURANCE
PLANS.
PREGNANT WOMEN WILL BE THROWN
OFF THE INSURANCE ROLLS.
DRUGS.
SENIORS PAY MORE FOR THEIR
IN THE NEW HEALTH CARE BILL, WE
ARE FILLING IN THE DOUGHNUT
HOLE, WHICH THE REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS DOESN'T LIKE BECAUSE THEY
WANT TO DIG OUT THE DATE OF
BIRTH R DOUGHNUT HOLE AND WE
TALKED ABOUT EXPLODING THE
DEFICITS AND SMALL BUSINESSES
PAY HIGHER TAXES.
THAT.
WHY WOULD REPUBLICANS WANT TO DO
THAT IS SO UNFAIR BUT THAT IS
WHAT THEY DID.
REPUBLICANS ARE REPEALING HEALTH
CARE REFORM INSTEAD OF FOCUSING
ON JOBS.
THEIR AAGENDA AFTER FOR AMERICA
IS NOT HEALTH CARE, BUT NO CARE,
NO CARE IF YOU LOSE YOUR JOB.
NO CARE IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD HAS
A PRE-EXISTING CONDITION.
THAT'S WHAT THE REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS HAS IN MIND FOR YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY.
NO CARE IF YOU ARE UNDER 26.
NO CARE IF YOU GET SICK AND YOUR
INSURED DROPS YOUR COVERAGE.
NO CARE IF YOUR INSURANCE
COMPANY HIKES HIGHER INSURANCE
PREMIUMS.
YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK.
THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
DOES CAREFULLY SHOW THAT THE
REPEAL OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT WOULD ADD $230 BILLION TO
THE DEFICIT IN FIRST 10 YEARS
AND $1 TRILLION AND AMERICAN
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HAS
RECOGNIZED AND DOES NOT SUPPORT.
WHO IS THE A.M.A., AMERICAN
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION?
WHO IS THAT?
AMERICA'S DOCTORS.
THEY KNOW, BECAUSE THEY ARE IN
THE HEALING ARTS.
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, MANY OF
THEM ARE IN THE MONEY-MAKING
ART, SO THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT
TAKE ON THIS THING BUT THE
AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HAS
COME TOGETHER AND SAID THAT THEY
DO NOT SUPPORT INITIATIVES TO
REPEAL THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
INSURANCE MARKET REFORMS,
ADMINISTRATION REFORMS ARE KEY
TO THE NEW LAW THAT REFLECT THE
A.M.A. PRIORITY.
SO THE PEOPLE WHO DO HEALING,
LET ME TELL YOU KNOW INSURANCE
COMPANY BUREAUCRAT EVER HEALS
ANYBODY, ALL THEY DO IS DN EYE
COVERAGE AND PROCESS CLAIMS.
BUT THE FOLKS WHO BRING HEALING,
THE DOCTORS, THE PEOPLE WHO THE
A.M.A. REPRESENTS, THEY ARE
AGAINST REPEAL AS THE DEMOCRATIC
CAUCUS IS AGAINST REPEAL AND IT
IS UNFORTUNATE WE HAD TO
WITNESS, WITNESS THE HOUSE
EFFORT TO REPEAL HEALTH CARE
REFORM.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.
THEY ARE GOING TO -- THIS IS
POLITICAL THEATER AND ALL
SHOWING OFF.
THIS IS POLITICAL THEATER, BUT
THE TRUTH IS, IT DOES INDICATE
WHAT THEY WOULD DO IF THEY COULD
AND WE ARE BOUND AND DETERMINED
TO STOP THEM, TO PROTECT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE THOSE IMPORTANT
HEALTH CARE REFORMS IN PLACE
THAT WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE
AMERICANS GO TO THE DOCTOR AND
GET PRESENT VNTTATIVE CARE,
OFFER COVERAGE PEOPLE TO AGE 26.
I WAS PRIVILEGED EARLIER THIS
WEEK TO MEET TWO LITTLE GIRLS.
THEY WERE SUFFERING FROM
LEUKEMIA.
AND THESE LITTLE GIRLS, BRAVE AS
THEY WERE, SAID, LOOK, IF WE
DIDN'T HAVE THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, WE WOULD BE DENIED OR COULD
WELL BE DENIED HEALTH CARE
COVERAGE.
THESE TWO LITTLE GIRLS' FATHER
HAD TO TAKE FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE
TO MEET THEIR NEEDS AS WELL AS
OTHER CHILDREN WHO DIDN'T HAVE
MEDICAL LEAVE, THEY WENT INTO
BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE OF THE PILES
OF DEBT THAT WERE THROWN ON
THEIR SHOULDERS.
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT COMES TO
ADDRESS THESE PROBLEMS, YET THE
REPEAL HEEPS THOSE PROBLEMS BACK
ON THOSE PROBLEMS.
AND TOO BAD THAT IT HAPPENED
THEY AREN'T GOING TO SUCCEED AND
CLEAR BY THEIR VOTE WHAT THEY
WOULD DO IF THEY COULD.
NOW, THE AARP WHICH REPRESENTS
OUR AMERICAN SENIORS, THEY
WEIGHED IN AND THEY SAY AS THE
HOUSE PREPARES TO VOTE ON THE
REPEAL, I'M WRITING TO MAKE
CLEAR AARP'S POSITION.
WHILE WE RESPECT THOSE WHO DO
NOT SUPPORT THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT, AARP OPPOSES REPEAL BECAUSE
IT INCLUDES VITAL PROVISIONS
IMPORTANT TO OLDER AMERICANS AND
THEIR CHILDREN.
THERE AGAIN, NOT ONLY REPRESENTS
AMERICA'S DOCTORS, BUT AARP SAYS
NO.
AND OF COURSE, THEY SHOULD,
BECAUSE AMERICA'S SENIORS NEED
HEALTH CARE REFORM, THE REFORMS
ACT.
THAT ARE IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE
SENIORS WERE FILLING IN THE
DOUGHNUT HOLE, MAKING
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AFFORDABLE TO
OUR SENIORS.
WE HAVE A WELLNESS VISIT FOR
EVERY SENIOR IN AMERICA ONCE A
YEAR TO MAKE SURE OUR SENIORS
ARE HEALTHY.
WELLNESS VISITS, DEALING WITH
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, FREE
PREVENTATIVE CARE MEANS WE HAVE
HEALTH YEAR SENIORS BECAUSE THEY
GOT ENOUGH MONEY AND MORE MONEY
THAN WE WOULD IF WE WERE UNDER
THE REIGN OF THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES AS WE WERE BEFORE.
AARP IS REPRESENTING THE BEST
INTERESTS OF AMERICAN SENIORS.
THE HEART ASSOCIATION, THIS IS
THE ASSOCIATION THAT DEALS WITH
THE ASSOCIATION OF THE HUMAN
HEART.
AND THIS HEART ASSOCIATION COMES
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE
PROTECTED.
THE HEART ASSOCIATION HAS THIS
THIS TO SAY ABOUT THIS DEBATE.
PATIENTS HAVE ALREADY BENEFITED
FROM THE REFORMS THAT HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED IN THE LAST 10
MONTHS.
AND BY THE WAY, THE REPUBLICAN
CAUCUS DIDN'T EVEN GIVE THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT A CHANCE.
10 MONTHS AFTER WE PASS IT, THEY
ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF IT AND
NOT WAITING TO SEE WHERE IT CAN
BE FINE-FOUND AND WANT TO GET
RID OF IT ALL.
AND THEY SAID THERE ARE CERTAIN
THINGS ABOUT THE BILL THEY LIKE,
BUT DON'T WANT TO FINE TUNE THE
BILL BUT REPEAL IT.
SO THAT TO ME INDICATES ANOTHER
KEY INDICATOR OF WHERE THE
REPUBLICAN CAUCUS' MIND IS AT.
BUT AS I WAS SAYING ABOUT THE
HEART ASSOCIATION.
PATIENTS HAVE ALREADY BENEFITED
FROM THE REFORMS THAT HAVE BEEN
IMPLEMENTED IN THE LAST 10
MONTHS.
WE BELIEVE THESE REFORMS AND
ADDITIONAL PATIENT PROTECTIONS
WERE LONG OVERDUE.
SO THE HEART ASSOCIATION SAYS,
HEY, WE DIDN'T GET THIS
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PASSED FAST
ENOUGH.
LONG OVERDUE AND NEED TO BE
GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY.
ABSOLUTELY, THEY ARE RIGHT.
AND IF NECESSARY, IMPROVE.
AND NOBODY ON THE DEMOCRATIC
CAUCUS SIDE SAYS THIS BILL WAS
PERFECT.
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A PERFECT
BILL, NEVER BEEN A PERFECT BILL,
BUT THE REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT
STRONGER.
TO SAY LET'S MAKE THE BILL
THEY SAY REPEAL.
AND I VOTED NO AND I WAS PROUD
TO DO SO.
BACK TO THE HEART ASSOCIATION.
REPEAL OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT WILL HAVE DEVASTATING
CONSEQUENCES FOR PATIENTS AND
THEIR FAMILIES, THAT'S ACCORDING
TO THE HEART ASSOCIATION.
AN ASSOCIATION DEDICATED TO THE
WELLNESS OF PEOPLE'S HEARTS,
PEOPLE WHO FOCUS THEIR TIME,
ATTENTION AND RESOURCES ON GOOD
HEART HEALTH ARE OPPOSED TO
REPEAL, AS THEY SHOULD, BECAUSE
THEY HAVE GOOD INTENTIONS AND
ARE OPERATING IN GOOD FAITH.
OF COURSE, ONLY 18% OF AMERICANS
SUPPORT FULL REPEAL ACCORDING TO
THE LATEST WASHINGTON/ABC POLL.
ONLY 18%.
THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE
HAVE DEATH PANELS IN IT.
THAT WAS NEVER TRUE.
MASSIVE DISINFORMATION AROUND
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BUT ONLY
18% SUPPORT FULL REPEAL.
AND THE FACT IS THAT I WOULD
IMAGINE IF YOU WERE TO SIT THOSE
18% OF AMERICANS IN THE ROOM AND
TELL THEM WHAT THE BILL DID,
THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE
SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THAT.
OF COURSE, THERE WAS ANOTHER AP
POLL SAYS 26% SUPPORTS FULL
REPEAL, STILL A SIGNIFICANT,
SMALL NUMBER.
AND SO THE BOTTOM LINE IS
WHETHER YOU TALK ABOUT YOUR
AVERAGE FAMILY, THE HEART
ASSOCIATION, AARP AND A.M.A.,
THIS REPEAL BILL THAT PASSED
THROUGH TODAY, BUT DOESN'T
REPEAL THE LAW, MAKE SURE, MR.
SPEAKER, EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT,
WAS A LOW POINT IN THIS
CONGRESS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO A DAY WHEN
WE CAN RETURN TO A CONGRESS THAT
SAYS WE BELIEVE THAT THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT
TO BE HEALTHY, RIGHT TO BE
STRONG, GO TO THE DOCTOR, SEEK
OUT PREVENTATIVE CARE, RIGHT TO
MAKE SURE INSURANCE COMPANIES
DON'T THROW PEOPLE OFF COVERAGE
WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, MR. SPEAKER,
BECAUSE ON THAT DAY, AMERICANS
WILL BE IN A MUCH, MUCH BETTER
PLACE THAN WE ARE TODAY WITH THE
MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE THAT
DOESN'T FEEL THAT THE INSURANCE
COMPANIES NEED REFORM OR
ACCOUNTABILITY.
NOW, I JUST WANT TO TALK A
LITTLE BIT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE
MISTAKENLY BELIEVE THAT SOMEHOW
MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS
ARE MORE PRO-BUSINESS THAN THE
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.
THAT'S NOT TRUE, NEVER BEEN TRUE
AND WE HAVE PROVEN IT'S NOT
TRUE.
BUT THEY SAY THAT STUFF.
BUT LET ME SHARE WITH YOU SOME
PERM STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO
ARE LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE FROM
THE PERSPECTIVE OF SMALL
BUSINESS, BECAUSE DESPITE
REPUBLICANS' RHETORIC, BUSINESS
GROUPS ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST
HEALTH CARE REFORM.
THE REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO REPEAL
MR. SPEAKER, I DON'T WANT TO BE
THE ONE THAT GOES NOT TO THE
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BECAUSE
THEY ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT
TO THOSE LOCAL CHAMBERS OF
COMMERCE, ROTARIES, I DON'T WANT
TO GO TO THEM AND SAY, YOU KNOW
THOSE TAX CREDITS THE DEMOCRATS
GOT FOR YOU FOR HEALTH CARE?
WE ARE TAKING THEM AWAY FROM
YOU?
I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT
REPRESENTATIVE.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL
BUSINESS GROUP ON HEALTH AND A
FORMER REPUBLICAN SENATE STAFFER
SAID ABOUT BUSINESS EXECUTIVES
WHO CALL FOR REPEAL, SHE SAID,
QUOTE, IF THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD
IT, THEY WOULDN'T.
I DON'T THINK WE'LL GET A BETTER
SOLUTION IN THE U.S. IN OUR
LIFETIME IF IT GETS REPEALED OR
GUTTED, WE'LL HAVE TO START OVER
AND BE WORSE OFF.
THIS IS WHAT THE PRESIDENT OF
THE NATIONAL BUSINESS GROUPS
SAYS ABOUT THE BILL.
SAYS THAT SMALL BUSINESS PEOPLE
WILL SUFFER BECAUSE OF IT.
NOW IF YOU ARE A SMALL BUSINESS
PERSON AND GET A TAX CREDIT TO
HELP YOU WITH 30% TO 50% OF THE
COST OF HEALTH CARE, THAT MEANS
YOU MAY SAVE THE MONEY YOU NEED
TO INVEST IN YOUR SMALL
BUSINESS, MAYBE HIRE SOME MORE
PEOPLE.
WHEN REPUBLICANS WERE CALLING IT
A JOB-KILLING BILL AND SAID,
WHAT BILL ARE THEY TALKING
ABOUT?
THE FACT IS, THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT IS A BILL THAT IS A
JOB-ENHANCING BILL, A PRO-JOB
BILL, THIS IS A BILL THAT TRAINS
PEOPLE TO GO INTO THE HEALTH
CARE PROFESSION, HELPS SMALL
BUSINESS AND HELEN KNOWS THAT
BECAUSE SHE IS THE PRESIDENT OF
THE NATIONAL BUSINESS GROUP ON
HEALTH.
THE SMALL BUSINESS MAJORITY
CHARACTERIZES THE APPEAL BILL
AS AN AFFRONT TO OUR NATION'S
SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
OF COURSE IT IS.
IF YOU'RE A SMALL
BUSINESSPERSON TRYING TO ADD
ANOTHER EMPLOYEE, TRYING TO BUY
SOME NEW EQUIPMENT, AND DO IT
ALL WHILE OFFERING HEALTH CARE
TO YOUR EMPLOYEES AND YOUR
BUSINESS, YOU'VE GOT THREE,
FOUR AND YOU'VE GOT 25, 30
EMPLOYEES, OF COURSE IT'S AN
AFFRONT TO YOU IF THE HOUSE
MAJORITY CAUCUS, THE
REPUBLICANS, WANT TO TAKE AWAY
YOUR TAX CREDIT.
ABSOLUTELY THAT'S AN AFFRONT.
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT,
IMAGINE YOURSELF WORKING FOR
SOME COMPANY FOR YEARS, YOU SAY
YOU KNOW WHAT, I DON'T WANT A
BOSS, I'M GOING TO BE MY OWN
BOSS, I'M STARTING MY OWN
COMPANY AND YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M
ONLY GOING TO HAVE ONE OR TWO
OR MAYBE FOUR PEOPLE WITH ME
WHEN I GET STARTED BUT WE'RE
GOING TO MAKE A GO OF IT.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU GUYS,
HUMAN BEINGS, THEY GET SICK
SOMETIMES AND SO WE'VE GOT TO
HAVE HEALTH CARE.
THE DEMOCRATS SAY WE'LL HELP
YOU PAY FOR THAT HEALTH CARE
AND THEN THE REPUBLICANS SAY
IT AWAY.
NO, WE'RE NOT AND THEY ***
OF COURSE THAT'S AN AFFRONT TO
OUR NATION'S SMALL BUSINESS
COMMUNITY.
THE SMALL BUSINESS MAJORITY IS
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT IN THEIR
LETTER.
THE TAX CREDITS AND HEALTH
INSURANCE EXCHANGES IN THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WILL HELP,
QUOTE, DRIVE DOWN THE COST AND
OFFER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
MORE CHOICES, MORE FREEDOM WHEN
PURCHASING INSURANCE.
WHICH WILL IN TURN ALLOW THEM
TO, QUOTE, SPEND LESS ON
INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND MORE ON
GROWING THEIR BUSINESS AND
CREATING JOBS.
NOW, THE CAUCUS THAT CLAIMS TO
BE ABOUT JOBS AND THE DEFICIT
IS ACTUALLY OPERATING DIRECTLY
OPPOSITE TO BOTH THE DEFICIT
AND JOBS.
THAT MEANS THAT WE'VE GOT TO
READ THE FINE PRINT.
WE CAN'T JUST GO BY WHAT PEOPLE
SAY BECAUSE PEOPLE SOMETIMES
SAY ANYTHING, MR. SPEAKER.
THE SMALL BUSINESS MAJORITY IS
RECENTLY THE RESULT OF A
NOVEMBER 2010 SURVEY OF 619
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, IN THEIR
SURVEY THE KEY FINDINGS
HIGHLIGHT, QUOTE, 1/3 OF
EMPLOYERS WHO DON'T OFFER
HEALTH INSURANCE SAID THEY
WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO DO SO
BECAUSE OF THE SMALL BUSINESS
TAX CREDIT.
SO THERE AGAIN, THE SMALL
BUSINESS TAX CREDIT IN THIS
BILL DESIGNED TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES TAKE CARE OF THEIR
EMPLOYEES AND MEET THEIR BOTTOM
LINE AND HOPEFULLY TURN A
PROFIT SO THAT THEY CAN HELP
GROW OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I'LL YIELD BACK MY TIME NOW,
MR. SPEAKER.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE TALKING
ABOUT THE DANGER OF REPEAL AND
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK.
UNDER THE SPEAKER'S ANNOUNCED
POLICY OF JANUARY 5, 2011, THE
CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM GEORGIA, MR. GINGREY, FOR