[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 15 (Monday, January 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E143-E145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SPECIAL ORDER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. AARON SCHOCK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 26, 2009

  Mr. SCHOCK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the anniversary of 
the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Roe v. Wade. My colleagues 
have provided a litany of great arguments against this decision, 
ranging from the legal (the court overstepped its bounds), to the 
scientific (fetal awareness and pain) to even their personal beliefs as 
guided by their religion. As such, let me bring a new perspective to 
this debate.
  I have the unique distinction as being the only member on the Floor 
today to have lived their entire life within the dark shadow cast by 
the Court's decision on January 22, 1973. As such, I do not remember 
the fiery debates the demonstrations or the heartache which followed a 
day which saw a nine-person judicial body devoid of medical knowledge 
singularly arbitrate a question that has plagued men for ages, ``when 
does life begin?''
  What I do know is that this decision has artificially divided the 
country for far too long, creating a single issues litmus test for 
every politician, judge and doctor. And while it seems this country 
will remain divided on this issue, it is my sincere hope that we all 
agree that human life is a precious gift that cannot and should not be 
wasted.
  Throughout my life, women have been able to obtain abortions only to 
realize after the fact the sadness that comes with any death.
  I am left to wonder about potential achievements that America could 
have accomplished had so many of its precious and innocent of citizens 
been given a chance to reach their potential. The future doctors, 
scientists, actors, teachers, policemen, coaches and, yes, even 
politicians that America has missed because nine people decided the 
definition of human vitality. Creating an almost arbitrarily line--
above which exists human life, below which equals a mass of tissue.
  But perhaps more troubling than these lost opportunities is the 
thought process that abortion on demand has created. A 2004 study

[[Page E144]]

found that women have cited ``social reasons,'' such as feeling 
unprepared for a child or considering themselves too immature to have a 
child, as the reason for an abortion in 93% of the cases. While I do 
not have personal experience, I know from talking to my sisters that 
they both felt woefully unprepared when they were pregnant. They both 
felt too young, worried if they would be a good parent and fretted 
about their children's future. But they had a support structure 
provided by family, friends and their church standing beside them.
  Now I certainly understand that unfortunately not everyone has access 
to the amazing support network that my sisters had, but that is not 
reason to allow abortion, that is reason to provide more services to 
these women, services which can help provide these women the tools to 
make strong decisions, to see the light at the end of the tunnel and 
see that a child is a gift, not a burden.
  I am reminded of this fact when I look into the face of my nieces and 
nephews, I cannot imagine thinking what my life would be like without 
my young nieces and nephews in it. The holidays we've experienced and 
the memories we shared are times I will forever cherish. I am indebted 
to the wisdom these children have shown me though their looks of 
happiness on their faces during birthday celebrations, Christmas 
mornings and family vacations. In fact, just recently, they have given 
me another memory that I will always cherish. I was touched by their 
kindness and support when on the opening day of this Congress; they 
left me letters of congratulations and support on my desk.
  It's the little things they have done and the joys they have brought 
to my life have been unimaginable. I cannot imagine my life without the 
happiness they have brought. I shudder to think how different my life 
would be had my family chosen a natural feeling of worry and self-doubt 
over the gift of life.
  I hope that my fellow Americans will choose life and remember the 
potential for every American. I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page E145]]

                       SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 
4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized 
schedule of all meetings and hearings of Senate committees, 
subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. This 
title requires all such committees to notify the Office of the Senate 
Daily Digest--designated by the Rules Committee--of the time, place, 
and purpose of the meetings, when scheduled, and any cancellations or 
changes in the meetings as they occur.
  As an additional procedure along with the computerization of this 
information, the Office of the Senate Daily Digest will prepare this 
information for printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the 
Congressional Record on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
  Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, January 27, 2009 may be found in the 
Daily Digest of today's Record.

                           MEETINGS SCHEDULED

                               JANUARY 28
     9:30 a.m.
       Foreign Relations
         Organizational business meeting to consider committee's 
           funding resolution, subcommittee membership and 
           jurisdiction, and rules of procedure for the 111th 
           Congress, and the nominations of James Braidy 
           Steinberg, of Texas, to be Deputy Secretary, and Jacob 
           J. Lew, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary for 
           Management and Resources, both of the Department of 
           State.
                                                            SD-419
       Veterans' Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine veterans organizations' 
           priorities for the 111th Congress.
                                                            SR-418
     10 a.m.
       Budget
         To hold hearings to examine federal response to the 
           housing and financial crisis.
                                                            SD-608
       Foreign Relations
         To hold hearings to examine global climate change.
                                                            SD-419
       Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine lessons from the Mumbai, 
           India terrorist attacks.
                                                            SD-342
       Judiciary
         Business meeting to consider the nomination of Eric H. 
           Holder, Jr., to be Attorney General.
                                                            SH-216
     2:30 p.m.
       Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
       Federal Financial Management, Government Information, 
           Federal Services, and International Security 
           Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine impact of the economic crisis 
           on the U.S. Postal Service.
                                                            SD-342
       Intelligence
         Closed business meeting to consider pending calendar 
           business.
                                                            SH-219

                               JANUARY 29
     9:30 a.m.
       Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
         Organizational business meeting to consider committee's 
           funding resolution, rules of procedure, and 
           subcommittees for the 111th Congress.
                                                            SD-342
       Veterans' Affairs
         Business meeting to consider.
                                                            SR-418
     10 a.m.
       Budget
         To hold hearings to examine the global economy, focusing 
           on outlook, risks, and implications for policy.
                                                            SD-608
       Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
         To hold hearings to examine quality in health reform.
                                                            SD-430
     2:30 p.m.
       Intelligence
         To hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence 
           matters.
                                                            SH-219