[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 201 (Thursday, November 18, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S8440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO MIKE POMPEO

  Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, I rise to pay tribute to former 
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. During Mr. Pompeo's time at the State 
Department, he worked tirelessly to defend unborn children around the 
world. Under then-Secretary Pompeo's leadership, the United States 
stood as a nation that values all human rights, including the right to 
life. His bold leadership encouraged other world leaders to join the 
United States in standing against efforts by some within the United 
Nations to make abortion on demand an international right.
  Mr. Pompeo established his pro-life bona fides during his four terms 
in the U.S. House of Representatives. During that time, he supported 
numerous pieces of pro-life legislation, such as the No Taxpayer 
Funding for Abortion Act and the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection 
Act.
  His commitment to the pro-life cause continued in his role as our 
Nation's top diplomat. A few particular successes stand out.
  First, Secretary Pompeo initiated a new compliance mechanism to 
ensure enforcement of the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits taxpayer 
dollars from being used for abortion overseas. Under the Protecting 
Life in Global Health Assistance policy, the State Department would 
refuse to partner with any foreign organizations involved in supporting 
abortions. Additionally, these nongovernment organizations will also 
have to provide certification to the State Department that they are not 
involved with abortions. This highly successful policy closed an 
overwhelming proportion of the loopholes that had previously allowed 
organizations to skirt compliance with the Mexico City Policy.
  Second, Secretary Pompeo ensured full enforcement of the Siljander 
amendment, an annual rider in the State and foreign operations 
appropriations bill to prohibit the use of U.S. funds, including 
foreign assistance, to lobby for or against abortion abroad.
  Third, the Department of State led the United States to sign the 
Geneva Consensus Declaration in 2020, which reaffirmed ``that there is 
no international right to abortion.'' Thirty-three other nations, 
representing more than 1.6 billion people, also signed the declaration, 
an achievement that would not have been possible without American 
leadership on the issue.
  Finally, Pompeo's Department of State in 2020 also sanctioned China 
for its many human rights abuses, including forced abortions and forced 
sterilizations.
  These accomplishments make clear that former Secretary of State Mike 
Pompeo made true strides in vigorously defending the right to life of 
the unborn babies around the globe. His endeavors deserve our applause 
and gratitude.

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