[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 14, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H4093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     UNBORN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE ACT

  (Mr. RYUN of Kansas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RYUN of Kansas. Madam Speaker, expecting a baby should be a 
joyous time, but tragically some mothers and their preborn children are 
being attacked. Often the express purpose is to kill the baby. To make 
matters worse, the preborn child is not protected under Federal law.
  Most of my colleagues know the story of Laci and Conner Peterson. 
Laci and her preborn son, Conner, were both killed in California last 
December. Conner was then in the 8th month of development. Twenty-six 
States have fetal homicide laws. California is one of them. 
Unthinkably, had this attack occurred on Federal property or in a State 
without a fetal homicide law, prosecutors would not have been able to 
press charges for the murder of little Conner.
  While this Chamber has considered the Unborn Victims of Violence Act 
before, a Federal provision to protect both victims has yet to be 
enacted. We must change this inconsistency in our law.
  At the request of Laci and Conner's family, the Unborn Victims of 
Violence Act is now appropriately called Laci and Conner's Law. Now is 
the time to act. Support Laci and Conner's Law.

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