[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 29 (Thursday, February 15, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCING THE SANCTITY OF LIFE ACT AND THE TAXPAYER FREEDOM OF 
                             CONSCIENCE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 15, 2007

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce two bills relating 
to abortion. These bills stop the federal government from promoting 
abortion. My bills accomplish this goal by prohibiting federal funds 
from being used for population control or ``family planning'' through 
exercising Congress's constitutional power to restrict federal court's 
jurisdiction by restoring each state's authority to protect unborn 
life.
  Abortion on demand is no doubt the most serious sociopolitical 
problem of our age. The lack of respect for life that permits abortion 
significantly contributes to our violent culture and our careless 
attitude toward liberty. Whether a civilized society treats human life 
with dignity or contempt determines the outcome of that civilization. 
Reaffirming the importance of the sanctity of life is crucial for the 
continuation of a civilized society. There is already strong evidence 
that we are on the slippery slope toward euthanasia and non-consensual 
human experimentation. Although the real problem lies within people' 
hearts and minds, the legal problems of protecting life stem from the 
ill-advised Roe v. Wade ruling, where the court usurped the state's 
authority over abortion.
  One of the bills I am introducing today, the Sanctity of Life Act of 
2005, reverses some of the damage done by Roe v. Wade. The Sanctity of 
Life Act provides that the federal courts of the United States, up to 
and including the Supreme Court, do not have jurisdiction to hear 
abortion-related cases. Congress must use the authority granted to it 
in Article 3, Section 1 of the Constitution to rein in rogue federal 
judges from interfering with a state's ability to protect unborn life.
  In addition to restricting federal court jurisdiction over abortion, 
Congress must stop the unconstitutional practice of forcing Americans 
to subsidize abortion providers. It is not enough to say that ``family 
planning'' groups may not use federal funds to perform or promote 
abortion. After all, since money is fungible, federal funding of any 
activities of these organizations forces taxpayers to underwrite the 
organizations abortion activities. This is why I am also introducing 
the Taxpayer Freedom of Conscience Act. The Taxpayer Freedom of 
Conscience Act prohibits any federal official from expending any 
federal funds for any population control or population planning program 
or any family planning activity. To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, it is 
``sinful and tyrannical'' to force the American taxpayers to subsidize 
programs and practices they find morally abhorrent.
  Madam Speaker, it is my hope that my colleagues will join me in 
support of these two bills. By following the Constitution and using the 
power granted to the Congress by the Constitution, we can restore 
respect for freedom of conscience and the sanctity of human life.

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