[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2468-S2469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Abortion

  Mr. President, a few years ago, mainstream news articles trumpeted, 
supposedly, stunning news out of Scandinavia: Iceland was close to 
eliminating Down syndrome. Eureka. Fantastic.
  How is it possible? Have these Icelandic scientists discovered some 
amazing and miraculous new gene therapy? No, they hadn't because 
Iceland wasn't eliminating Down syndrome. Iceland was eliminating 
babies with Down syndrome using prenatal testing to identify genetic 
anomalies and then aborting the babies that had those anomalies.
  According to one Icelandic genetic counselor--and this is a direct 
quote. I am not making it up. You might think I am.

       We don't look at abortion as murder. We look at it as a 
     thing that we ended.

  Imagine, how ghoulish that is. That is what this counselor and some 
like him believe, that a baby is just a ``thing.'' But if they are 
honest with themselves, I think if they look into their hearts, they 
know the truth: Babies with Down syndrome aren't just ``things.'' They 
are living human beings of inestimable value who are loved by their 
Creator, even if they aren't protected by the law or valued by too many 
in society.
  Sadly, Iceland is no exception. In many parts of the world, a Down 
syndrome diagnosis is tantamount to a death sentence. And while in 
America, thankfully, we are more welcoming, sadly, we still terminate 
roughly two-thirds of babies diagnosed with this genetic condition. 
That needs to change.
  A civilized nation has a responsibility to protect our most 
vulnerable people, and that means we have an obligation, especially, to 
protect unborn babies with Down syndrome.
  My home State of Arkansas passed a law to do just that--to make it 
illegal for an abortionist to perform an abortion if they know it is 
motivated solely by a Down syndrome diagnosis. You would think this law 
would be uncontroversial. You would think a country that cares about 
ending discrimination against people with disabilities would leap at 
the chance to outlaw a particularly evil and final form of 
discrimination. After all, this Congress has taken many steps in recent 
years to protect those with disabilities. But, no, you would be wrong. 
That is not what happened. The abortion lobby kicked into high gear and 
got a liberal judge to block Arkansas' pro-life law from going into 
effect.
  The pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute denounced laws to protect 
babies with Down syndrome as ``dangerous and coercive.'' Now, this 
should not be surprising coming from the Guttmacher Institute. After 
all, it is named after a former leader of the American Eugenics 
Society, as so many abortion advocates can also trace their lineage to 
the dark, so-called science of eugenics of early last century.
  These modern-day eugenicists and a few liberal activist judges are 
putting babies with Down syndrome at grave risk every day. These babies 
can find no refuge under the laws of many of our States and our Nation.
  But, thankfully, that may be changing. The State of Arkansas is 
fighting to save its pro-life law in court, and tomorrow, I and 
Representative Ashley Hinson, along with many of my colleagues in 
Congress, will submit an amicus brief urging the court to protect these 
most innocent and vulnerable young babies. Time will only tell if the 
courts will hear these pleas.

[[Page S2469]]

  But while we will make the most persuasive legal arguments available 
on the law and the facts, I must add that the most effective advocates 
for justice will always remain those little babies with Down syndrome 
and the parents who brought them bravely into this world. They will be 
the first to tell you that a person with Down syndrome isn't a burden. 
It isn't just a ``thing,'' to quote the Icelandic eugenicists. These 
babies are persons. They are fearfully and wonderfully made. They are 
created equal in the eyes of and image of God, just like each and every 
one of us.
  So let us fervently pray that one day soon, our laws will reflect 
this very basic truth and protect these innocent children.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.