[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 76 (Tuesday, June 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1000-E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CHILE'S COMPLIANCE WITH ITS OWN LAWS PROTECTING LIFE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2001

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity 
to commend Chile for its legal protection of unborn children. Chile has 
a wonderfully coherent constitution and system of laws relative to the 
protection of human life. The consistency of Chile's laws protecting 
human life is something that I look at very favorably when I consider 
the United States' relations with Chile.
  That is why, as the Vice-Chairman of the House International 
Relations Committee as well as a Member of Congress with over 20 years 
of service, I am concerned about recent reports that the Chilean 
government has taken actions inconsistent with Chile's own legal 
protection of life.
  I am specifically concerned about reports that the government has 
authorized and is promoting the ``morning after pill.'' Although the 
international abortion industry has

[[Page E1001]]

misleadingly labeled this pill an ``emergency contraceptive,'' it 
operates not as a true contraceptive but as an abortifacient. That is, 
it does not prevent conception, but instead ensures the expulsion of 
the unborn child from the womb, causing its death.
  As Congress reviews the free trade negotiations currently underway 
between the United States and Chile, the Chilean government's apparent 
failure to comply with its own benign laws regarding protection of 
human life from the moment of conception has become a factor in my 
consideration. For pro-life Members of Congress, admiration for Chile's 
continuing commitment to unborn children is an important reason to want 
to have a close and positive relationship with Chile. We believe Chile 
and other countries that still protect their unborn children should be 
commended and rewarded for setting an example to other nations, 
including the United States, whose courts or legislatures have imposed 
a legal regime that treats unborn children not as human beings to be 
nurtured and protected, but as disposable objects. I am sure that other 
Members of Congress who admire Chile's legal protection of unborn 
children will share my concern about reports that the government has 
taken actions in violation of that legal protection.
  As the United States moves forward in our relations with Chile, I 
hope the Chilean government will consistently follow its own 
enlightened pro-life laws. I commend Chile for these laws, which 
reflect a consistent ethic of life over death.

                          ____________________