[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 13 (Thursday, January 20, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H278-H283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             MARCH FOR LIFE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 4, 2021, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I will be brief, and I will 
speak at the end of the Special Order as well if there is time.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1973 the U.S. Supreme Court abandoned women and 
babies to what is now the multibillion dollar abortion industry, and 
almost 63\1/2\ million unborn children have been killed, a staggering 
loss of children's lives that is more than the entire population of 
Italy.
  Now, by at least affirming the constitutionality of the Mississippi 
law after 15 weeks, which we are all hoping and praying for, the 
Supreme Court may finally take a powerful step towards inclusion, 
respect, and justice for the weakest and most vulnerable nearly 50 
years after the infamous findings of Roe v. Wade.
  Tomorrow thousands will march for life here in the capital and across 
the country.
  I yield to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris), who is a medical 
doctor, an anesthesiologist at Johns Hopkins, and co-chairman of the 
Pro-Life Caucus.
  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with the hope that after nearly 
50 years, Roe v. Wade's attack on the most basic of human rights, the 
right to life, will soon meet its end.
  Why are we going to be marching tomorrow? We do it because we believe 
that every person, born and unborn, deserves a chance at life. We march 
to shed light on the incredible resources available to expectant 
mothers who find themselves in desperate situations. We march to send a 
message that humanity cannot sit by and quietly tolerate the deliberate 
ending of human life.
  Mr. Speaker, I am a physician, and I have helped thousands of women 
deliver their babies over the course of my career. When I underwent my 
training, I was taught that caring for expectant mothers meant caring 
for two patients, not one. As you can see here, advances in ultrasound 
technology have reinforced that training from decades ago. Mr. Speaker, 
these are not blobs of tissue we are talking about. These are human 
beings. The science is clear: From the moment of conception, new human 
life enters the world with its own unique DNA, and in a matter of weeks 
even a heartbeat.
  Mr. Speaker, we march for an end to the human tragedy of abortion, 
and I pray each day that we come closer to this righteous conclusion.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from 
Minnesota (Mrs. Fischbach), co-chair of the Pro-Life Caucus.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank my great friend, Mr. Smith, and 
a great fighter for life for many years, and we appreciate all of his 
work on that.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 49th anniversary of the Roe v. 
Wade tragedy and to remember the more than 60 million unborn lives it 
has taken and the tragic, irreversible mark it has left on countless 
mothers, fathers, and families.
  Every innocent life is precious, from conception until natural death, 
but for nearly five decades abortion has remained one of the greatest 
tragedies of our Nation.
  The Supreme Court now has the opportunity to right some of the 
terrible wrongs committed in this country against the unborn since Roe 
v. Wade. I pray for our Justices, that they make the right decision, 
for many lives will depend on it.
  We will continue to fight for the lives of unborn children.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mrs. Fischbach for her 
powerful and eloquent witness for life, both in the legislature in 
Minnesota and now in the U.S. House.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot). I would 
note that he is the prime author of two breakthrough laws. One is 
called the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, which is law, and the Born-
Alive Infants Protection Act.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for 
his long-time leadership in protecting innocent, unborn lives. He was 
here at the beginning. The fathers of the pro-life movement here in the 
United States Congress were Chris Smith and Henry Hyde.
  Speaking of Henry Hyde, we have had for a long time something called 
the Hyde amendment, which basically said U.S. tax dollars could not go 
to pay for abortions, but we have a radical pro-abortion group of 
people that control this Congress now. They think that tax dollars 
ought to go to pay for other people's abortions.
  They also believe that not only should we pay for abortions here in 
the United States with the people's tax dollars, but they ought to pay 
for abortions across the globe, and that is a reversal of the Mexico 
City policy.
  The Supreme Court is currently considering two cases that may 
fundamentally alter abortion in this country, and it is my hope, my 
sincere hope, that this Court will finally right a grievous past wrong 
and give the rights to the most vulnerable among us, the unborn, and 
protect lives in the future rather than what has happened in the 
slaughter of over 63 million of our fellow citizens.

  I want to thank Mr. Smith and all the other Members who will be 
speaking here today for their leadership on this vital, vital issue.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Babin).
  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I want to just say how much I appreciate the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for having this very, very 
valuable worthwhile Special Order.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the 63 million 
babies who have tragically been aborted since the Supreme Court's 
devastating decision in Roe v. Wade.
  However, in the 49 years since that fatal decision, science has 
unmistakably proven that unborn babies can feel pain as early as 15 
weeks. They even have a character. We can see it on sonograms.
  But the left likes to ignore this fact. They seem to only value the 
type of science that supports their political agenda. It is time for 
the ``party of science'' to actually follow the science and to protect 
the unborn.
  I will always fight for life. I am proud to be up here with my 
colleagues today standing up for these unborn, innocent, little human 
beings. I sincerely pray that the Supreme Court of the United States 
will make the just decision to overturn Roe v. Wade this very year.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Bergman), my friend and colleague.
  Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be here with my colleagues

[[Page H279]]

who believe so fervently in doing the right thing because if you seek 
your wisdom from above, you will always do the right thing. I 
appreciate Mr. Smith's leadership.
  As we stand here remembering the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I 
want to remind my colleagues that standing for life--and I repeat, 
standing for life--has historically been a bipartisan effort. Example, 
the Hyde amendment, especially across Michigan's First District.
  Since coming to Congress, I am proud to have stood shoulder to 
shoulder with my constituents as we collectively raise our voice, and 
our vote, for those who have neither.

                              {time}  1300

  The very first inalienable right described in the Declaration of 
Independence is the right to life.
  As a Member of Congress I have always and will always continue to 
fight to correct that right for the born and the unborn.
  Protecting life isn't an issue of division. In fact, it is one of 
unity.
  We must all work together to enact better policies and build stronger 
communities that create a culture of life.
  Together, we can create a Nation that honors life and upholds the 
self-evident truth that every life is precious and must be protected.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
leadership.
  I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson), a 
distinguished attorney before coming to Congress and number four in the 
line of leadership in the Republican Party.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for his 
principal leadership on this issue for so many years. He is a great 
model to us all.
  Mr. Speaker, we in the Pro-Life Caucus are happy to join the March 
for Life tomorrow here in the Nation's capital, but we are here today 
to acknowledge the tragic anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
  As has been said, more than 63 million unborn children have been 
denied their right to life in the past 49 years since that tragic 
decision was handed down.
  As we fight to protect the liberties of all Americans here in 
Congress, we have to remember to fight first for the most defenseless, 
and that is the child in the womb, who from the moment of conception is 
a unique human being with unique DNA.
  In the coming months you are going to hear a lot of vague and 
euphemistic language from defenders of abortion. Do not be swayed. The 
truth is very simple, and it has never changed. Abortion takes a baby's 
life, a person made in God's image.
  We hope, we pray, we believe that 2022 is the year the Supreme Court 
will finally recognize this truth once again.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
leadership.
  I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Joyce), a medical 
doctor. So many of our leaders in the pro-life effort both in this 
Congress and legislation across the country are medical doctors and 
healthcare professionals.
  Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from New 
Jersey, Mr. Smith, for his leadership in this incredibly important 
issue. Year after year he has stood for the unborn. Personally I want 
to thank him for that leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, in the 49 years since the case of Roe v. Wade was ruled 
on by the Supreme Court, 63 million innocent unborn children have lost 
their lives to abortion.
  Now, members of the radical left are trying to raise the number of 
abortions performed in the United States by repealing the Hyde 
amendment, which for decades has ensured that no taxpayer dollars are 
used to fund this barbaric procedure.
  As a doctor, I swore an oath to ``first, do no harm.''
  When I was in medical school I swore that I would never perform, 
assist, or support an abortion procedure. As a medical student, as an 
intern, as a resident, and as a board certified physician for 25 years, 
I lived up to that pledge.
  As a legislator in the United States Congress I took a pledge to 
continue to stand for life.
  Now is the time for Congress to pass legislation that defends the 
rights of the unborn.
  Now is the time for us to end abortions in this country.
  On this 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade let us remember the lives 
that have been lost and recommit ourselves to defending human life.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Thank you very much, doctor, for your 
leadership and eloquence.
  I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett).
  Mr. BURCHETT. We can all agree that it is wrong to murder a person, 
Mr. Speaker, or in other words to take someone's life. So my pro-
abortion colleagues need to answer the simple question of when does a 
little baby girl's life start?
  Does it start at 6 weeks when the baby girl's heart starts beating? 
Most pro-abortion advocates oppose the 6-week heartbeat laws, so they 
would not consider a heartbeat to be life. What about when a little 
baby girl can start to feel pain around the halfway point in pregnancy? 
Not a single House Democrat cosponsored legislation that would affect 
babies who can feel pain, so it seems they don't believe in life at the 
halfway point either.
  What about at 21 weeks, Mr. Speaker, when the baby girl could 
potentially survive outside the womb thanks to lifesaving medical 
technology? It seems simple to say if she could live outside the womb, 
she must be alive inside the womb, as well. Yet most pro-abortion 
advocates still say we should be able to kill her without a second 
thought.
  Many of my pro-abortion colleagues also believe we should be able to 
abort viable babies even up through birth. Why should abortion doctors 
be allowed to kill a baby who has developed organs, a beating heart, 
and even the ability to recognize the sound of their own mother's 
voice? There is no excuse for aborting babies at birth, but the pro-
abortion movement believes this murder should be allowed anyway.
  It is time my pro-abortion colleagues start following the science and 
realize those little babies are human, alive, and worthy of life.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Smith for the incredible work he is doing. 
He may not get his rewards here, but I assure you he will in Heaven.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Cline).
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his 
leadership on this issue and for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, as we approach the 49th anniversary of the Supreme 
Court's decision in Roe v. Wade my colleagues and I come together to 
remember the more than 63 million children who have had their lives cut 
short in this country since 1973.
  I stand here today for the sake of the women, for the sake of the 
children, and for the sake of the very future of our Nation.
  Because of Roe v. Wade and the cases that followed its precedent, the 
right of the unborn to be born is denied throughout our Nation more 
than 2,000 times every single day, and in several States throughout all 
9 months of pregnancy, which Roe permits.
  This is a great stain on this great Nation.
  We will not be silent here in Congress, nor will the hundreds of 
millions of pro-life Americans across this country.
  My colleagues and I will continue to stand for life and fight to end 
the tragedy that is abortion.
  We will remain steadfast supporters of life and serve as voices for 
the voiceless and defenders of the defenseless.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
strong statement.
  I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller.)
  Mr. KELLER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for 
taking the lead on such an important issue.
  Mr. Speaker, on the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, let's reflect on 
the importance of standing up for every human being's right to realize 
their full potential from the moment of conception.
  In fact, Members of Congress have a solemn duty to defend those 
incapable of defending themselves, the most innocent among us, the 
unborn.
  I will share a little bit of a personal story when my family chose 
life. This was when my son was 3 years old. He

[[Page H280]]

was involved in an accident with a head injury, and he was on life 
support. And many times the doctors told us he wasn't going to survive. 
In fact, they said it is not an 80 percent chance, not a 95 percent 
chance, but it was a 100 percent chance that he was going to pass. We 
did not disconnect life support.
  We chose life. We prayed. And Freddie started to recover.
  Today Freddie is fully recovered, and though his accident was decades 
ago, this is an opportunity to learn about the value of human life.
  Our creator has a plan for each one of us, and I will continue to 
support policies that ensure every life has the chance to realize its 
fullest potential.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
sharing that beautiful story about his son Freddie.
  I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Allen), another good 
friend and colleague.
  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for all 
his great work on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 49th anniversary of the Supreme 
Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, a devastating decision that we have 
continued to remind you has killed 63 million children in this country.
  Who do we trust on this issue? There it says: ``In God We Trust.'' So 
if that is the case, this is what God said to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5: 
I knew you before I formed you in the womb. So what more evidence do we 
need?
  This shouldn't be a political debate, but now my Democratic friends 
are taking it one step further by attempting to abolish the Hyde 
amendment, which prevents taxpayer money from funding abortions. The 
government should not be using hard-earned taxpayer money to kill 
innocent children.
  However, I am optimistic that the fight for life will take a step in 
the right direction.
  The Supreme Court is currently reviewing Dobbs v. Jackson Women's 
Health Organization, a lawsuit challenging a Mississippi law that bans 
abortion after 15 weeks.
  I pray that the judges will rule in favor of life.
  As the father of four and the grandfather of 14, I believe that life 
is precious, and I will fight to protect that life.
  I have taken an oath to fight for life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
happiness, and so has every Member of this body.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for his 
comments.
  I yield to the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Lesko).
  Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, you wouldn't believe it, but as I was 
walking here today to speak about the value of life, my daughter called 
me, and she is headed to the hospital to give birth to my fifth 
grandchildren, my second granddaughter. So isn't this an appropriate 
depiction right here of my next granddaughter, who is going to be named 
Grace.
  I used to be what they call pro-choice years ago. But I was lied to. 
You know, they said it was just a clump of cells, just some tissues, 
looked like a tadpole, nothing. But, you know, as technology has gotten 
better, we now have ultrasounds, and in our State of Arizona we passed 
legislation so that the mothers could see what their babies really look 
like. They have little hands, little fingers, little toes. They are 
humans. They are real people. They are not just a clump of cells. And 
that is why it is so disturbing to me that here in the U.S. Congress I 
don't think we have one of my Democratic colleagues left that is pro-
life. I think they got rid of them in the primaries.
  And when Republicans have come forward and asked the Speaker of the 
House, please, can we vote on a bill that requires medical help to be 
given to babies that are born alive in a botched abortion, she said 
``no.'' What has this country come to when we don't even want to keep a 
baby alive after it is born?
  My fellow Republicans and I are fighting hard for the value of life 
to protect the preborn, to protect every life. This is the most 
important thing that we can do.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her 
remarks and wish her congratulations.
  I yield to the gentleman from Montana (Mr. Rosendale).
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for being a leading 
example on this charge for us.
  Tomorrow will be a unique and significant day. Tomorrow many of us 
will take the unfortunately similar steps of a march that began in 
1974. This March for Life however may be the last one before the stain 
of Roe v. Wade is lifted from this Nation.
  However, even if we are so fortunate, the decision to continue this 
crime will likely remain in many of the States.
  Sadly, millions of Americans have yet to awaken, awaken to the 
cruelty and the evil that is abortion. The reason for this slumber is 
no less devastating than the murder of 63 million children. It is the 
failure to recognize the inherent dignity of every life. This failure 
has justified the intentional killing of a living child, led to the 
many atrocities of the 21st century and this American tragedy. We, 
however, are not reconciled to continue this moral failing.
  I often think about the abortionist who has woken up to the evil 
which he has been so complicit in. That moment when his heart converts, 
when he has been availed of the truth inherent in human life. He looks 
back at the trail of broken bodies that he has traveled.
  But if we stop there at the horror and the tragedy, we would not have 
hope because we know that when he looks up he now sees those glorified 
souls looking down on him, singing in praise and rejoicing in his 
conversion.

                              {time}  1315

  There is renewal in our movement, and there is hope. There is the 
hopeful anticipation that everyone in every State will also see the 
obvious truth and the inherent beauty in the tiniest life.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for including me in this Special 
Order today.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
comments and leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Schweikert), 
a good friend and colleague.
  Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I may have a slightly different tone here. I was born in 
an unwed mother's home in downtown L.A., and so were all my siblings. 
In my late thirties, I got an email out of nowhere, and it said: Hi, 
David. I am a friend of your sister's. Here is your information. Here 
is your birth mother.
  We had a family discussion. I sent a very carefully worded note, and 
a couple of weeks later, I got this phone call, this tiny voice 
crying--and I am crying now also on the phone. And she is saying: I go 
to mass almost every day. On your birthday, I am terrified. Are you 
having a good life? How has your world been?
  And I am crying on the other side, basically saying: Look, I have had 
a great life. I got adopted by a family that brought me to Arizona. I 
get to live in the Phoenix area. I have a wonderful brother and sister, 
who were also born in the unwed mother's home.
  It became an amazing experience. My mom, who is right here, and this 
is my birth mom right here, they became best of friends. I have never 
told this part of the story here, but my birth mom--both of them have 
now passed away--had an early type of Alzheimer's, a type of dementia. 
But my mom here had sent her all sorts of photos of me being a child. 
So when you go into the house that they had there in California, there 
would be my two 6' tall blonde half sisters and then pictures of me as 
a baby growing up.
  In her mind, I was always there. I was always part of the family. The 
dear Lord does heal.
  But one of her best friends at the funeral turned to me and said: 
David, did Mary Lynn ever tell you the story of when we were in the car 
on the way to Tijuana to go get an abortion?
  As they got closer and closer to the border, she began to cry. Then 
they got closer, and she started to hyperventilate. Eventually, she 
became so crushed with fear and sadness and terror, the girls turned 
around and went back and talked to her mother. A few months later, I 
was born at that Holy Family Unwed Mothers Home.
  Now I am this age, and I have an adopted little girl, who is the 
third generation adopted in our family.

[[Page H281]]

  For those of us who passionately care about life, I think it is 
important we also tell the stories of how grateful some of us are to be 
alive; the amazing life my little girl is having and how grateful I am 
to her birth mom for giving us the greatest gift my wife and I have 
ever had; and understanding that the ultimate definition of love is 
life. Maybe others out there can have the amazing experience I have had 
with meeting my birth family and my family and my siblings' birth 
families. It is just one amazing experience of joy of life.
  That needs to be what, I think, we focus on. There is good here if we 
just change our hearts and our minds.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much 
for sharing that.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher), my 
good friend and colleague.
  Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from New 
Jersey. It is an honor to join my colleagues here during this special 
week.
  Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago, I approached the podium for the first time 
to give my speech on the House floor. I chose my topic intentionally as 
it is an issue that I will always champion: protecting the lives of the 
unborn. There is no effort more worthy than supporting life. This issue 
defines our culture, our society, and our value system.
  Every year, I am overwhelmed at the outpouring of effort, energy, and 
support that floods this cause. So thank you, and thank you to my 
colleagues in the House and Senate who join me in this fight. Thank you 
to the health practitioners working nonstop to provide resources to 
help new mothers choose life. Thanks to our advocates on the ground, 
from the airwaves to in-person, for continually showing your support. 
And thank you to our pastors and religious organizations for seeking 
divine guidance and strength in this effort.
  I am inspired by you all and will keep doing everything I can to 
continue this fight to protect the unborn.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta), and I 
thank him for his leadership on his pending bill.
  Mr. LATTA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from New Jersey for 
his years of unending work for the unborn. He has been so steadfast 
that, from the bottom of my heart, I thank him for all he has done.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the tragedy of abortion is the 
greatest human rights issue of our day. The right to life is the 
foundation upon which all other rights are built. The science is clear: 
Abortion ends a human life.
  Studies have proven chemical abortion puts the life of the mother in 
great danger. In 2015, one in three women who took the abortion drug 
ended up in the emergency room within 30 days. Let me repeat that. One 
in three women who took the abortion drug ended up in the emergency 
room within 30 days.
  Congress must do more to provide women and their unborn children with 
care and support. I am proud that my legislation, the SAVE Moms and 
Babies Act, would prevent the FDA from approving new abortion drugs and 
would stop these dangerous pills from being dispensed through 
telemedicine.
  I would like to thank everyone in Washington, D.C., this week who is 
offering their unwavering dedication to defending the unborn despite a 
culture that often marginalizes pro-life values.

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Palazzo), 
my friend and colleague and leader in the pro-life movement as well.
  Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for 
putting on this very, very Special Order so we can address a very 
serious issue that is plaguing our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a 
standard of unparalleled violence against an innocent population in 
this country. The biggest casualty caused by Roe v. Wade are the 62 
million children killed before they had a chance.
  Our forefathers believed that every man, woman, and child has a God-
given right to life. Our Constitution makes no caveat for only those 
who can walk, talk, and speak.
  Because of my children and my faith, protecting life is a very 
personal responsibility to me. As a Catholic, I can testify how faith 
encourages strength of character, urges truthfulness, and prioritizes 
the sanctity of life.
  The sad truth is that you will find many of the politicians claiming 
to be religious actively rejecting each of these faith-founded 
principles. The most basic way to exercise faith is by adhering to the 
Ten Commandants, including thou shalt not kill.
  I appreciate all of my friends and colleagues in Congress who are 
standing up and speaking up for those who cannot today. I am grateful 
to know that there are Americans who will speak and fight alongside me 
on behalf of millions of unborn babies who cannot defend themselves.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very 
much.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I have always felt the 1960s was where America went off 
the rails. Of course, Roe v. Wade wasn't decided in exactly the 1960s, 
but the 1960s really, I think, began with the assassination of 
President Kennedy. You would say the end of that disastrous decade was 
January 22, 1973, where the Supreme Court decided that abortion was 
legal in the United States of America. Just a disaster.
  Since then, 63 million unborn children have died in every State. Ten 
years before that, abortion would have been considered illegal. All 
churches would have been appalled by it, and all Americans knew it was 
just a horrible thing. But then, in an example of out-of-control 
judiciary, probably the most extreme example in our country, the U.S. 
Supreme Court came in and began a reign in which 63 million unborn 
children have lost their lives.
  The U.S. is one of seven countries where late-term abortions are 
illegal. We stand with Vietnam, North Korea, Red China, together with 
Singapore, Canada, and the Netherlands. We are one of the few countries 
in the world, after all God has given us, that we decide to step up and 
say it is appropriate to kill a child right up to birth.
  In any event, today, we mourn the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. We look 
forward to leaving this Chamber and marching in the March for Life, as 
we hope that this is finally--given that there is an important Supreme 
Court decision coming down--finally the end, or the beginning of the 
end, of this ongoing slaughter of the innocent in the United States.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
reminding us that the Chinese Communist Party and North Korea both have 
policies like ours, especially as it relates to up-to-birth abortions.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).
  Mr. LaMALFA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) for being a stalwart leader on this ever since I 
have been involved in this. I appreciate him for being courageous and 
strong on defending life.
  Mr. Speaker, as we know, in the 49 years since the Supreme Court 
codified Roe v. Wade, the science behind pregnancy and its diagnosis, 
so to speak, has advanced exponentially. We know this year the Supreme 
Court will rule on a case called Dobbs v. Jackson to decide on limiting 
abortion access to 15 weeks of pregnancy.
  As if there has been any doubt, really, of what a pregnancy means 
commonsense-wise, that it is a child developing--not a blob, a tissue 
mass, a clump of cells, or a baby giraffe. No, it is a human being.
  Medical advancements like ultrasounds since that decision 49 years 
ago, prenatal surgeries, all these have shown the humanity of the 
unborn, which points to the value of life from the moment of 
conception, from that flash of light.

  By 15 weeks in the womb, babies have fully developed hearts, can 
taste, can make facial expressions, and can feel pain. With today's 
medical advancements, a baby can survive outside the womb, incredibly, 
at 22 weeks and, in

[[Page H282]]

some cases, even earlier with aggressive care and maybe a little bit of 
luck and God's blessing.
  Roe v. Wade allows a baby to be born as late as 28 weeks. At 28 
weeks, a baby is a living, breathing, developed person with thoughts 
and a future. We need revisions to Roe v. Wade. The future of our 
Nation, its morality, its outlook, it depends on it. Abortion is a 
gruesome act that destroys families, harms women's health, mentally and 
physically, and takes the life of the innocent.
  I will always fight for the unborn, the sanctity of life, and our 
traditional family values this country is founded upon. It is truly a 
cornerstone, and it is abhorrent that lives like this can be taken 
needlessly when we have so many remedies.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
leadership all these many years.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Van Duyne).
  Ms. VAN DUYNE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, this weekend, tens of thousands of men and women will 
fill the streets of our Capital to march for the lives of the unborn 
and to advocate for the rights of the most vulnerable Americans.
  These men and women are advocating for an end to abortion, but they 
are not just seeking policy solutions. I know many of the devoted 
participants in the March for Life and about all the work they do in 
our communities to make sure that no woman ever feels alone or that 
abortion is her only option.

                              {time}  1330

  They staff pregnancy centers, host diaper drives, provide information 
on adoptions, and organize childcare for young mothers. They are doing 
the work of making their cities and neighborhoods a place where no one 
is alone and there is a support system for every mother. There is 
sensitive and compassionate help available to those facing an unwanted 
pregnancy.
  Mr. Speaker, as we march for life this weekend, we march for a 
greater future for all of us, one that values the unborn and sees the 
potential in every life. I am proud to support, champion, and stand 
with these efforts.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I now yield to the distinguished gentlewoman 
from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger), who is also a pharmacist.
  Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, my belief in God and my Christian 
faith, they are the catalyst for every decision I make. Remarkable 
Americans from across the country are gathering this week in 
Washington, D.C., to advocate for the protection of unborn children.
  Written into the Declaration of Independence is our founding faith 
and principle that we are all created by God, created equally, endowed 
by our creator with the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the 
pursuit of happiness. However, since the infamous Supreme Court 
decision of Roe v. Wade some 49 years ago, we have fallen short of that 
national edict by not acknowledging that life at every stage is 
precious, valuable, sacred, and should be protected.
  To the many Americans marching in person this week and supporting the 
pro-life movement through other means, I want to say thank you for your 
dedication to this most worthy cause and know that you are not alone in 
this fight. As you continue to stand up for those who cannot stand up 
for themselves, remember that my pro-life colleagues and I stand with 
you.
  Mr. Speaker, I promise to use this platform right here in Congress 
and beyond to continue my vocal and unapologetic advocacy for unborn 
children. I will not stop fighting until our laws and policies protect 
life at every stage. I hope you won't either.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman 
from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), a friend and colleague for several 
decades.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize my colleagues this 
solemn day. It is the day we commemorate the anniversary of Roe v. 
Wade. I have said it before and continue to say, as I have many times, 
I am pro-life. I am pro-family. I am pro-child. I join my colleagues 
and constituents in Alabama's Fourth Congressional District in 
remembering the, literally, millions of babies that have been aborted 
since that 1973 decision.
  Mr. Speaker, this year we are possibly on the brink of a 
transformational moment in our history, a moment of hope that we really 
haven't had for many, many years, the reversal of or major changes to 
Roe v. Wade.
  As most of us know, in June of this year we expect the U.S. Supreme 
Court to hand down a decision on the Dobbs v. Jackson case. In deciding 
this case, the Supreme Court has the opportunity to protect the lives 
of unborn children after the 15-week mark of pregnancy.
  Mr. Speaker, I think we all have to be clear. Even if the Supreme 
Court upholds the Mississippi law as it is written, abortion will not 
be banned nationwide. It simply gives the power back to the States. For 
me, my pro-life stance is deeply rooted in my Christian faith. Just as 
important, my opposition to abortion is about doing what is right. It 
is about protecting unborn babies. It is about not trying to impose my 
faith on anyone else.
  Mr. Speaker, that is because it is also rooted in science. Like much 
of science, our scope of knowledge on the development of unborn babies 
has advanced farther than what we knew back in 1973. It is time for our 
laws to catch up.
  At 15 weeks, an unborn baby has a heartbeat. It can open and close 
its fingers and hands. It can taste. It can even feel pain. No argument 
in favor of abortion can overcome one unchanging fact, and that is 
abortion stops a beating heart.
  Given developments of unborn babies at 15 weeks, abortions after this 
timeframe often involve gruesome medical procedures that are dangerous 
for mothers and undoubtedly painful to the baby.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues, as we look forward, as we 
return back to our States, and as this issue is hopefully turned over 
into the hands of the States, we can make groundbreaking steps in 
saving the lives of the unborn.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I now yield to the gentleman from Kansas 
(Mr. Mann).
  Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my reasoning for voting 
to protect unborn American citizens. I believe that life begins at 
conception which is why I support adoptions, foster care, and crisis 
pregnancy centers that work tirelessly to care for mothers and babies.
  Kansans are leading the way in protecting the right to life by 
placing the Value Them Both amendment on the ballot, this year's 
response to the Kansas Supreme Court's unthinkable ruling that abortion 
is a constitutional right. For my part, I have cosponsored pro-life 
legislation including H.R. 18, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion 
Act, permanently prohibiting Federal funding for abortions and abortion 
services. I have introduced my own H.R. 714 which would require the 
executive branch to notify Congress and the American public before 
issuing any new executive order pertaining to pro-life provisions.
  Mr. Speaker, abortion has desensitized our Nation. I pray we wake up 
soon and repent for the horrors we have visited upon America's most 
vulnerable, the unborn. Imagine what this country would look like 
economically, culturally, socially, and spiritually if abortion hadn't 
wiped out an entire generation of Americans, 63.4 million people over 
the last 50 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I say thank you to all of you who have joined together 
in this fight. Thank you for using your voices to defend the voiceless.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I now recognize the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson). As I said before, there are doctors who 
are outspoken in their defense of life, Dr. Thompson is one of those.

  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during this 
Special Order to reaffirm my commitment to protect and defend the 
sanctity of life.
  From the moment I stepped foot into this Chamber in 2009, I submitted 
my promise to protect our most vulnerable, the unborn. In this Congress 
I have cosponsored 11 bills and signed on to eight letters relating to 
pro-life policies.
  Our Founders enshrined in the Declaration of Independence three 
unalienable rights. The first is the right to life. Sadly, from the 
moment of the Roe v. Wade decision, the basic

[[Page H283]]

right to life has been denied to more than 60 million unborn children. 
We don't know what those children would have grown up to do. Perhaps 
they would have cured cancer, found a solution to Alzheimer's. The 
possibilities are endless with the loss of those lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with so many of my colleagues. We 
know that there is hope on the horizon. The life movement is strong, 
and I look forward to continuing to advocate on behalf of pro-life 
policies. It is my hope that one day those unalienable rights will 
extend to all Americans born and unborn. It is my prayer that this will 
be the last march for life with Roe v. Wade being the law of the land. 
When we march next year, it will be in celebration for what we have 
accomplished for the protection of the unborn.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the gentleman 
from Wisconsin (Mr. Fitzgerald), a good friend and colleague.
  Mr. FITZGERALD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in defense of life.
  This Saturday, as many of the previous speakers had alluded to, is 
the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. As such, it is a fitting time to 
talk about this administration's radical anti-life policies for which 
some of us were caught off guard when President Biden was running for 
the Presidency.
  Over the past year we have watched President Biden and the Democrats 
continually push what I would consider an anti-life full agenda. First, 
they gutted the Hyde amendment, a longstanding provision of 
appropriations bills that prevents taxpayer funding for abortions and 
has saved an estimated 2 million lives.
  Then the Biden Administration's Department of Health and Human 
Services changed the rules to essentially require healthcare providers 
to perform abortions, despite any moral objections they may have.
  Finally, my Democrat colleagues passed a radical bill that removes 
existing limits on abortion and allows abortions on demand, no matter 
the age of the fetus.
  Mr. Speaker, I will always push back on their anti-life stances with 
a clear and strong message of full opposition. I believe that every 
human life is precious and should be protected at every stage. 
Throughout my career, I have always stood for life. I will continue to 
fight against this administration's anti-life policies.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, today, after decades of noble 
struggle and sacrifice, pro-life Americans are hopeful that government-
sanctioned violence against children and the exploitation of women by 
abortion may be nearing an end, although in a very real way the 
struggle to defend innocent human life now enters a critically 
important new phase.
  Because of the Dobbs case, because the Supreme Court has finally 
seemingly accepted a relook at Roe v. Wade and subsequent decisions, 
the Federal Government and the States-based suit have new authority to 
protect the weakest and the most vulnerable among us. Protection for 
unborn children is at a tipping point. In 2022, the Supreme Court can 
begin dismantling the culture of death that it has imposed on America.
  Mr. Speaker, for decades and right up to this very moment, abortion 
supporters have gone through extraordinary lengths to ignore, to 
trivialize, and to cover up the battered baby victim. With stolid 
resolve, they defend the indefensible.
  Why does dismembering a child with sharp knives, pulverizing a child 
with powerful suction devices, chemically poisoning a baby with any 
number of toxic chemicals--one method euphemistically called medical 
abortion--why does all of this fail to elicit so much as a scintilla of 
empathy, mercy, or compassion from the so-called pro-choice crowd?
  Have the physical and emotional consequences of women been 
underreported? You bet they have. I have been in the pro-life movement 
for almost 50 years. Both my wife, Marie, and I do work with a lot of 
women who have had abortions. They tell us stories of agony that, just 
like the fact of the unborn child's worth and dignity, has been 
trivialized by the other side of this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, why are children born alive during some late-term 
abortions not given the same standard of care and respect as premature 
infants born at that very same age? They are left to die, or they are 
just killed after they are born.

  President Biden understands the gruesome reality of abortion and this 
injustice. At least he once did. As Senator Biden wrote to constituents 
in explaining his support for the Hyde amendment, for example, 
prohibiting taxpayer funding for elective abortions, he said it would 
protect both the woman and her unborn child. He stated at the time he 
had consistently, on no fewer than 50 occasions, voted against Federal 
funding of abortions. Further, those of us who are opposed to abortion 
should not be compelled to pay for them.
  Today, the President has weaponized the entire Federal bureaucracy to 
aggressively promote abortion on demand at home and overseas, including 
full court press to force taxpayers to fund abortions on demand 
including the repeal of the Hyde amendment.
  Last September, the House passed a bill, the abortion on demand until 
birth act. Of course, it had a different name that just cloaked the 
misery that it would impose. That bill would not only codify late-term 
abortions, it would also nullify nearly every modest pro-life 
restriction ever enacted by the States including a woman's right to 
know laws in 35 states, parental involvement statutes in 37 states, 
pain-capable unborn child protection laws in 19 states, sex-election 
abortion bans in almost a dozen states and waiting periods in 26 
states. By his words and his deeds, the President has become the 
abortion President. I think he wants to own that.
  Mr. Speaker, this all comes at a time when ultrasound imaging has 
made unborn babies more visible, with a greater clarity than ever 
before. Breakthrough research has now found that unborn children can 
feel pain at a gestational age of 15 weeks and maybe earlier.

                              {time}  1345

  Today modern medicine treats an ever-increasing number of unborn 
children with disability and disease as patients in need of diagnosis 
and life-enhancing treatments before birth. Unborn babies are society's 
youngest patients and deserve protection, not death by abortion. 
Science informs us that birth is merely an event--albeit a very 
important one--in the life of the child. It is not the beginning of his 
or her life.
  As most people know, after the ultrasound the grandparents, the 
parents, and the friends get pictures of the child in utero. The 
ultrasound pictures are the first baby pictures that are now plastered 
on all of our refrigerators in great expectation for that event called 
birth.
  The right to life is the first human right, and it must be guaranteed 
to everyone regardless of race, age, sex, disability, stage of 
development, or condition of dependency. Life is not just for the 
planned, the privileged, or the perfect.
  We need to protect these innocent children.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________