[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 42 (Thursday, April 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BAN ACT OF 2000

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                               speech of

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2000

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, many fingers have been pointed today and much 
has been said about what this side believes and what that side 
believes. I am here to tell you what I believe.
  I am a cosponsor of H.R. 2149, the Late-term Abortion Restriction 
Act. Roe v. Wade and successor decisions are the law of the land and 
this bill is consistent with the law.
  The bill would ban all late-term abortions, regardless of the type of 
procedure used, with exceptions only to protect the life of the mother 
and to avert serious adverse health consequences. Because it bans 
abortions based upon viability of the fetus rather than the type of 
procedure used, it will prevent late-term abortions in a morally and 
constitutionally sound manner.
  I considered many factors in deciding to cosponsor H.R. 2149. I am a 
believer in the Constitution. The Supreme Court has repeatedly 
confirmed that our rights include the right to make our own medical 
decisions.
  No one can say ending a pregnancy is an easy decision, nor can anyone 
claim the idea of late term abortions for only convenience is anything 
but ethically wrong. This bill strikes a balance and adheres to the 
Court's requirement that any law protect the life and health of the 
pregnant woman. H.R. 2149 meets all these constitutional requirements.
  This bill should be law because it addresses what the American people 
truly want to stop--the termination of a viable fetus during late 
stages of pregnancy, unless there is a serious threat to life or health 
of the mother.
  The President has said he would sign H.R. 2149 into law. If opponents 
of abortion truly want to stop late-term abortions, this is the bill 
that will do it.
  Today, I will vote against H.R. 3660, the Partial Birth Abortion Ban 
Act. I urge my colleagues to consider H.R. 2149 as an effective and 
constitutionally sound solution to this deeply personal issue.

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