[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 46 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E548]]
                 PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BAN ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2000

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, when the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act was 
before this body last year, opponents accused proponents of the 
legislation of bad taste, of offensive conduct. What was that offensive 
conduct? It was giving an admittedly accurate description of the 
gruesome act by which a baby's body is dismantled and mutilated and its 
young life painfully and unjustifiably ended. There is agreement. What 
a sorry spectacle. Unfortunately, ironically, there is no agreement--no 
consensus on an even sorrier spectacle, an even greater outrage. That 
outrage is not a description of a partial birth abortion, it is the 
partial birth abortion itself. Imagine a society too humane and too 
caring to permit the discussion of such a heinous act, but one which at 
the same time not only permits, but defends this outrageous offense 
against humanity, liberty and justice.
  Do not all of us have the compassion to agree that this should never 
happen to any human being? A violation of our God given dignity. Is not 
every partial birth abortion an offense against humanity: does it not 
weaken our conscience, harden our heart, and dull our mind. I submit to 
you that every innocent life taken by this procedure makes America less 
caring, less respectful of others, and leaves behind only feelings of 
guilt. Each procedure leaves scars that can last forever in our memory, 
in our hearts, and in our consciences.
  [We in America like to consider ourselves a compassionate people. We 
pride ourselves on wanting to protect the weak, to help those in need. 
But we refuse to acknowledge the suffering of a baby whose skull is 
cracked and whose brain is sucked out. Yet this happens at least 5,000 
times each year in America. That means that every day 14 babies die 
hidden from our view. Babies need our protection, our care, and our 
concern. We have been elected to protect those who need our help, to 
make a difference in the lives of others. I, for one, feel the weight 
of knowing that all of those babies suffer so much and so needlessly. 
We have the power to stop their suffering, and to end this barbaric 
procedure.]
  A mother's womb is where a baby should feel safest, free from all 
harm and literally surrounded by love. Every partial birth abortion is 
a failure of love. Every partial birth abortion is a failure of 
justice. And every partial birth abortion is an unnecessary procedure. 
Not only are these types of brutal degradations not required, the AMA 
says they should never happen in a medically advanced country like 
ours.
  Let us all agree to go beyond partisan ways of thinking and consider 
what is really at stake: the life of an innocent, weak, and defenseless 
human being who needs our protection. Does not justice and conscience 
and respect for life cry out for passage of this legislation?

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