[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 13 (Thursday, January 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HENRY E. BROWN, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 22, 2009

  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
the 36th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision and in particular the 
efforts of those who have worked for the right to life that the 
decision made so tenuous. Today, as they have since 1974, thousands of 
people marched on Washington to show their dedication to a movement 
that has seen many gains in the past few years. These people march for 
a culture where 50 million innocent lives would be saved, and where 
people are valued beyond their simple worth as a thing. They also march 
to mourn these lives of the unborn. They march, ultimately, for the 
dignity of humanity which has been denied for too many people.
  This year's march is particularly poignant, because these hundreds of 
thousands have come after millions, including myself, came to celebrate 
the election of American's first black President. We also celebrated 
the life and accomplishments of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. I'm proud of how far America's come, as we break down racial 
and ethnic barriers that many thought were invincible, but we know 
there's more to do. As Dr. King's niece, Alveda King commented after 
the election of President Obama, ``[Dr. King's] dream of full equality 
remains just a dream as long as unborn children continue to be treated 
no better than property.''
  Madam Speaker, we've made many gains towards a culture of life in 
recent years. The number of abortions has fallen every year since their 
peak in 1990, and there have been successes at both the state and 
federal level: federal funding for research requiring the destruction 
of human embryos has been restricted, we continued to observe the 
Mexico City Policy, ``partial birth abortion'' has been banned, and 
many states have policies requiring parental consent for minors. I hope 
that President Obama and this Congress will continue down this road, 
and remember the culture of life that we recognize today.

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