[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 14, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H4018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SUPPORT FOR THE UNBORN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE ACT

  (Mr. WELDON of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WELDON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
legislation introduced by the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart): 
H.R. 1997, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act.
  The parents and family of Laci Peterson have asked that the name of 
this bill be changed to Laci and Connor's Law. I think for most 
Americans, this is, shall we say, a no-brainer. People are committing 
acts of violence against pregnant women, and, unfortunately, in some 
jurisdictions there is no way to prosecute in a situation where there 
has been the death of the unborn baby. We are talking about babies that 
are wanted by their mothers.
  Indeed, we had a case of a military servicemember who specifically 
was trying to kill the baby inside his pregnant wife and succeeded in 
doing that. He did so on Federal property, and we had to prosecute in 
State court in that situation.
  I think this law is very, very badly needed. It is the right thing to 
do. I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support it.

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