[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H269-H273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROE V. WADE DECISION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Fischbach) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include any extraneous material.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 50th 
anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
  Abortion is one of the greatest tragedies in our Nation, and Roe v. 
Wade opened the door for abortions on demand until birth.
  Over the last five decades, more than 60 million unborn lives have 
been taken and a tragic, irreversible mark has been left on countless 
mothers, fathers, and families.
  While there is still so much work to be done, I stand here hopeful. 
The pro-life community is stronger than ever. With last year's Dobbs v. 
Jackson decision, this country is beginning to move in the right 
direction to defend the defenseless and support life. We are changing 
hearts and minds.

  Of course, we still have a long way to go in this fight, and I am 
proud that one of the first things that we voted on in this Congress 
was the born-alive act to protect babies who have survived an attempted 
abortion.
  I am also proud to have introduced two bills to help protect the 
unborn, women, and taxpayers: the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, which 
I was asked to carry by former Congresswoman Vickie Hartzler who 
carried the bill in the last Congress, and the Protecting Life and 
Taxpayers Act.
  We know that Americans across the country value the lives of the 
precious unborn babies, and it is just wrong to force them to spend 
their tax dollars on something that goes against their most closely 
held values.
  This evening, I am pleased to be joined by so many champions of the 
unborn to celebrate the victories, with many more to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cloud), who is 
championing the efforts with Chairman Bost to end taxpayer-funded 
abortions at the VA. He has been a lead sponsor of the Women's Public 
Health and Safety Act, which gives States the authority to exclude 
abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid 
funds.
  Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, Friday, thousands of Americans participated 
in the March for Life in support of the most vulnerable in our society 
who have no voice: the preborn.
  Today, we continue to recognize the dignity of every individual and 
fight for the most fundamental right of all: the right to life. Our 
instincts were always right. Science has revealed it is not just a 
clump of cells in the womb. At 15 weeks, babies suck their thumbs, 
kick, jump, have fully developed hearts, and can feel pain.
  What looks like a baby in the womb, revealed to us through ultrasound 
technology, is in fact a baby when they are born.
  The radical Roe v. Wade decision was based on bad science and bad 
jurisprudence, and I am grateful that it was overturned.
  Now is the time where we as a Nation must continue to build a culture 
that respects life and recognizes the God-given dignity of every 
individual and that first unalienable right: the right to life.
  Despite the terror tactics we have seen come from pro-abortionists--
burning and vandalizing pregnancy centers

[[Page H270]]

and churches--the pro-life movement has not winced.
  Pregnancy centers across the country continue operating, providing 
mothers with true healthcare, and they are saving lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with these and millions across our Nation in 
serving as a voice for the voiceless. I, along with my fellow 
colleagues here, will continue to work to advance legislation that 
protects the preborn and the right to life.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Norman), who will be reintroducing the Ensuring Accurate 
and Complete Abortion Data Reporting Act which would compel States to 
report both the number of abortions and the number of infants born 
alive after an abortion attempt.
  Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 1-year 
anniversary of the overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision.
  A year ago, the Supreme Court has decided to allow the States to 
handle the issue of abortion themselves, ending more than 49 years of 
heartbreaking Federal precedent.
  When we celebrate pro-life victories like this, we should not do so 
in a way that causes emotional pain to those women who have had an 
abortion; nor should we back down from being unapologetically pro-life. 
I believe that abortion as a matter of convenience or everyday birth 
control is flatout wrong.
  I would like to recognize the contributions of pro-life pregnancy 
centers throughout our Nation that offer compassionate support and care 
to women as they choose to become mothers and bring life into this 
world.
  The Palmetto Women's Center in my district is focused on uniting 
hope, health, and healing to women as they bring children into the 
world. The center is working to lower the number of abortions in South 
Carolina and supporting women as they choose life for their children. I 
applaud the work that pro-life centers are doing, and I will continue 
to be an advocate for all that they do.
  Although giving the power on how to handle the issues of abortion 
back to the States through the favorable Dobbs ruling is a big win, it 
does not mean the work of the pro-life movement is done. Action at the 
State and local level will only grow in importance in the coming years. 
I will continue to be a voice for the voiceless.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I know that we will all continue to be a 
voice for the voiceless. It is so important, and our work is not done.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore), another 
defender of life.
  Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, as our country grapples with how to 
respond to this pressing moment facing women, families, and children, I 
believe we must strive for a better, more compassionate future.
  All Americans want women and their babies to be safe, loved, and 
empowered, no matter their situation or socioeconomic status.
  I believe Americans are capable of seizing this moment and coming 
together to support those facing tremendous challenges and uncertainty.
  We can support critical, comprehensive services for women in need. We 
can make it easier for working-class families to earn money and raise 
children, and we can support the rights and dignity of our youngest 
Americans.
  This month, I was elected to serve on the Ways and Means Committee, 
and I intend to use this position to do better by American families.

  We owe our most vulnerable children more effective policies that give 
them a better runway to achieve their dreams in a broken world.
  I am engaging on Title IV-B and IV-E programs to ensure child welfare 
and foster care programs are as evidence based as MIECHV.
  I am engaging on the Connecting Forever Families Act to expedite 
foster care placements and help child welfare courts adopt new 
procedures to address the unacceptable delays and backlogs for children 
waiting for placements in supportive homes.
  I will fight for children in foster care who have to spend nights in 
shelters, government offices, or other inappropriate settings because 
of our congregate care crisis.
  I am shedding light on the unfair audit rates of families who have 
claimed their adoption tax credit, 70 percent of whom were audited in 
the most recent available data.
  Children are obviously our future and we must work harder to ensure 
every child has the opportunity and resources to thrive and succeed.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for all of his 
work.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Clyde), who 
reintroduced the Protect the UNBORN Act last week to prohibit the 
implementation of and funding for President Biden's pro-abortion 
executive orders.
  Mr. CLYDE. Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday, on January 22, our Nation 
mourned the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the treacherous ruling 
that paved the way for the murder of more than 60 million innocent 
babies, all precious, all worth saving, and all made in the perfect 
image of God.
  Thankfully, the victorious Dobbs ruling overturned Roe v. Wade last 
year, rightfully returning the issue of abortion back to the States. 
However, while we champion this momentous win in the fight for the 
unborn, we cannot forget the millions of lives lost to the evils of 
abortion.
  Today, I introduced a resolution to recognize January 22 as the ``Day 
of Tears'' to honor and mourn the loss of these unborn children.
  But in the face of President Biden's pro-abortion agenda, we must do 
more to defend the sanctity of human life. May God raise up more 
warriors to protect innocent life because life, after all, is our first 
and foremost fundamental unalienable right.
  Last week, I proudly introduced--with nearly 90 original cosponsors--
the Protect the UNBORN Act to block and defund President Biden's pro-
abortion executive orders. Congress must take action to protect the 
unborn and prevent taxpayer dollars from funding the left's radical and 
destructive abortion agenda.
  We must never downplay the evils of abortion. As an unapologetic pro-
life advocate, I am proud to defend the unborn and fight for the 
sanctity of life.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado 
(Mr. Lamborn), who is looking forward to reintroducing the Second 
Chance at Life Act, which would require abortion facilities to provide 
information at least 24 hours in advance that explains that the 
chemical abortion process may be reversed before taking the second of 
the two drugs required.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to remember the lives lost due to 
the Roe v. Wade decision. There are an estimated 64 million American 
souls who are missing as a result. We gather today on this 50th 
anniversary, solemnly, but hopefully.
  As Members of Congress, we are tasked with representing our 
constituents, even the unborn ones. I will always speak out and fight 
to protect the sanctity of these lives.
  It is difficult to imagine how we as a Nation allowed this decision 
to stand for almost 50 years. I have hope and know that the Supreme 
Court has provided for us a brighter future with their decision in 
Dobbs.
  Last Congress, as was just stated, I introduced the Second Chance at 
Life Act. Chemical abortions can be reversed with no harm to the child 
if the pregnant mother develops second thoughts midway through the 
chemical abortion process. My legislation, again, in this Congress, 
will give the opportunity of life for thousands of unborn children.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Smith and 
Representative Fischbach for their leadership in the Congressional Pro-
Life Caucus and for holding this Special Order.

                              {time}  1945

  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his pro-life 
leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), who is 
a great defender of life.
  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate Chris Smith, and I thank 
the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs. Fischbach) for having this Special 
Order.
  Mr. Speaker, today, as we mourn the millions of babies lost because 
of the decision in Roe v. Wade 53 years ago, we also celebrate the 
millions that will

[[Page H271]]

be saved now because that decision has been overturned.
  Tragically, Mr. Speaker, my Democratic colleagues would rather spread 
lies about the Supreme Court decision than to tell the truth. They want 
to deceive you into believing that Republicans don't care about women's 
health--that is crazy--even as they enable and encourage biological men 
to use women's bathrooms and to compete in women's sports, and they are 
content to simply watch pro-abortion thugs attack and burn pregnancy 
centers and churches around the country.
  They may refuse the truth because it doesn't further their anti-life 
agenda, but they can't change it. The truth is that the reversal of Roe 
v. Wade returned the power to where it belongs, and that is to States.
  So today I celebrate that decision, I pray for those taken, and I 
renew my promise to never surrender the fight for our unborn. I will 
always defend the voiceless, and I will always stand for life.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
commitment.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ogles), who 
is a freshman and a great pro-lifer.
  Mr. OGLES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Fischbach for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, the Supreme Court handed down a decision 
that will live in infamy. Because of that opinion, over 63 million 
unborn children have lost their lives due to abortion.
  In time, future generations will look back at this moment in American 
history and wonder how the greatest country in the world could have 
permitted modern-day slaughter of the innocent. Our Nation has 
dehumanized those who are seen as a burden. Comfort and convenience are 
now the new cardinal virtues of our modern society.
  It is this mentality and this historic decay of the value of life 
that has allowed our Nation to treat the unborn as a disposable 
commodity.
  Over the last five decades, we have treated the unborn as problems to 
be solved rather than children to be loved. Due to the incredible work 
of millions of patriotic Americans, abortion has been consigned to the 
ash heap of history. On this day, we thank those Americans who for over 
50 years willingly and joyfully stood outside in the January cold for 
the March for Life.
  On June 24, 2022, the United States of America declared to the world 
that, once again, our Nation will embrace the intrinsic worth and value 
of every human life.
  This is a reminder, however, that our work is not yet done. We will 
continue to work and convince hearts and minds that the culture of life 
is worth preserving.
  May all those who work to promote the cause of life forever know that 
their cause is true, their cause is beautiful, and their cause is good.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his commitment 
to the unborn and for those wonderful words.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford), 
who is a proud father, grandfather, and great-grandfather committed to 
fighting for life.
  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give a voice to the voiceless all across 
our country and to speak out against the culture of death that has been 
perpetuated by the abortion industry here in America.
  Our Founding Fathers enshrined in the Declaration of Independence the 
unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I 
thought it very telling that our Vice President was speaking on this 
very issue just the other day, and she only mentioned two of those 
unalienable rights--only two of them. She left out life. I think she 
left out life because that is where we are at now. We talk about a 
culture of death, and we don't talk about life.
  Our Nation cannot sit idly by as 1 million unborn children have this 
life taken from them every year--every year. This is advancing the 
normalizing of this culture of death.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to stand before you now and celebrate the 
fact that this culture of death is turning. The Supreme Court Dobbs 
decision doesn't end abortion in America, but by placing abortion 
decisions at the State level where it belongs, voters now have a 
greater voice in shaping our abortion laws. But that doesn't stop our 
resolve at the Federal level.
  Throughout my time in Congress, I have fought to pass laws that 
respect life at every stage from conception to natural death and 
support both mothers and babies before and after birth.
  Earlier this month, I proudly joined with my colleagues in the House 
to pass H.R. 26, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, 
which simply ensures that babies who survive failed abortions receive 
the same life-saving care that all babies who live can receive. It is 
amazing to think that we have to pass a law like this.
  Last week, I joined Congressman Alex Mooney to again introduce the 
Life and Conception Act which recognizes the humanity and life of the 
unborn and ensures they receive equal protection under the 14th 
Amendment.
  Mr. Speaker, whether we take a child's life in the womb or we take it 
at First and Main, that is simply geography. Life is our most precious 
gift from God, and it is our obligation to protect the most basic of 
rights for our next generation.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for 
his remarks. He mentioned the culture of death, but we are working and 
we are succeeding in turning back into the culture of life and changing 
hearts and minds.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), 
who is my great friend. My colleague from Minnesota is a true champion 
of life.
  Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Fischbach for 
allowing me to speak and for her leadership on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 50th anniversary of the 
Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. Over the past five decades, we 
have seen the devastation of this ruling which has led to the loss of 
tens of millions of innocent lives here in the United States.
  I am heartened by the Supreme Court's reversal of this decision in 
Dobbs v. Jackson last year and the countless lives that will now be 
saved each year.
  For me and my family, the sanctity of life is deeply personal. Nearly 
20 years ago, my wife, Jodi, and I became parents of a baby born with 
Down syndrome. Whenever I look at my son, Isaac, I see a miracle of 
God's special gift to our family.
  Today, Isaac is an incredible, kind, and charming young man, and we 
know his future is bright.
  Now imagine what kind of world we would be living in if every child 
was given the same chance to reach their potential. The world would be 
much better, and our collective future would be much brighter.
  Since the start of the current Congress, the House has voted on two 
bills to protect and support life. I am proud that all of my Republican 
colleagues joined me in supporting these very important measures.
  Unfortunately, very few of my Democrat colleagues joined us in 
support.
  To those Democrats who joined us in defending life: I commend you for 
your courage to stand up to the radical wing of your party which pushes 
for abortion on demand without limits and paid for with taxpayer 
dollars.
  The right to life should not be a partisan issue. I extend an olive 
branch to all of my Democratic colleagues from across the aisle and 
encourage them to join us in our fight for life and to protect the most 
innocent among us--the unborn. It is up to us to do what is right and 
always defend life.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for 
sharing his personal story and that strong and true support for life.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), 
who introduced the Heartbeat Protection Act which would prohibit 
abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected with the exceptions of 
rape, incest, and life of the mother, when necessary.
  Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative 
Fischbach for hosting this Special Order tonight.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been 7 months since the Supreme Court's landmark 
decision to overthrow Roe v. Wade. In that time, we have seen 
incredible progress to protect life around this

[[Page H272]]

country, including right here in Washington, D.C.
  Just last week, many tens of thousands of families came out to the 
annual March for Life to peacefully and prayerfully show their support 
for the unborn. The week before that, the new pro-life Republican 
majority took major steps to protect the unborn. We passed legislation 
to ensure babies who survive an abortion receive the healthcare they 
need and to condemn the attacks against pro-life crisis pregnancy 
centers.
  All of this is so important, but it is only the first step. Advocates 
and people of faith around the country are going to their State and 
Federal lawmakers and asking for change.
  It is my hope that this Republican majority will continue to pass 
pro-life legislation.
  But my real question is: Where is the outrage?
  Nearly 1 million unborn children are expected to die in 2023 from 
abortion in the United States of America where protecting life is our 
highest calling, where we are the first responder anywhere in the world 
anytime there is an attack on life, anytime there is a tragedy, and 
anytime there is a need for somebody to come there to try and save 
lives, and yet, in 2023, 1 million of the unborn will be aborted.
  It is incredible to me that in a nation that has been blessed for so 
long with so much can turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the cries of 
the unborn.
  My question is: Where is the outrage of my fellow Americans?
  Where is the cry against this injustice that is taking place?
  Where are we standing not as a political party but as citizens of the 
world?
  As I said earlier, if there is a cry for help anywhere on this globe, 
it is America that will be the first responder. It is America that will 
be there to save lives. It is America that will go to any end of the 
world to help, and yet in our own country, we are willing to turn a 
blind eye and a deaf ear to the abortion of over 1 million babies a 
year.

  Where is the outrage?
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania. 
We are here to speak up for the unborn. We hear their cry, and we will 
continue to fight and hear the unborn.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Guest), 
who with the House Congressional Pro-Life Caucus chair, Chris Smith, 
helped lead the amicus brief in support of Mississippi's Dobbs case. 
The amicus brief was joined by more than 200 Members of Congress, 
including myself, and urged the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. 
The Congressman from Mississippi was instrumental in that fight.
  Mr. GUEST. Mr. Speaker, on July 4, 1776, our Founding Fathers in the 
preamble to the Declaration of Independence wrote these words that form 
the very foundation of our great Nation: We hold these truths to be 
self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by 
their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are 
life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today to say that we cannot and to 
say that we will not forget the duty of this Congress to defend the 
inalienable right to life.
  We cannot forget the devastating impact that Roe v. Wade caused on 
families and the unborn.
  That devastation would have continued if Dobbs v. Jackson--a case 
that proudly originated in my home State of Mississippi--had not come 
before the Supreme Court and opened the pathway to allow States to 
protect life.
  If our great Nation can unite around any singular issue, it should be 
that life is sacred, that life is a gift from God, and that life should 
be protected.

                              {time}  2000

  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Guest for all of his work in 
defense of the unborn.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), 
the Values Action Team chair and a longstanding protector of life.
  Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I come to you tonight, as a lot of my 
colleagues are doing, recognizing the 50-year anniversary of the very 
flawed decision of Roe v. Wade.
  Although the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, we 
cannot forget the lives that were lost during those almost 50 
devastating years. The lives lost during the Roe era must serve as a 
reminder of why we continue to fight for life.
  I have said before, and I will continue to say, that I am pro-life, I 
am pro-family, and I am pro-child.
  In the wake of the Dobbs decision, many States, like my home State of 
Alabama, have taken steps to protect the unborn. However, there is more 
work to be done when it comes to protecting the lives of the innocent.
  Just last week, the annual March for Life took place here in 
Washington, D.C., as has already been mentioned. Instead of marching on 
the Supreme Court, thousands of pro-life advocates marched on Congress. 
They know our work isn't finished, and they are calling on Congress to 
do our job to protect life.
  I am proud to see that pro-life measures have already passed the 
House with bipartisan support in this new Congress. Also, I look 
forward to continued bipartisan efforts to protect the most vulnerable 
among us, and this should be, Mr. Speaker, a bipartisan issue.
  This anniversary serves as a solemn reminder of the tragic losses as 
a result of Roe v. Wade, but it also serves as a reminder that the 
fight for life is not over.
  I also thank Mrs. Fischbach for her leadership in organizing this 
hour to uphold the sanctity of human life.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate all the work Mr. Aderholt 
has done. We will continue our fight, and we will continue our work to 
protect unborn life.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, as has been mentioned, prior to 1973, 
there would be what I would consider a consensus in this country that 
it would be horrific to prematurely kill a child in the womb.
  At the time, as a practical matter, there were only two or three 
States in which abortion was legal, and there were times in this 
country before then in which every State considered abortion illegal.
  We know what happened after Roe v. Wade. Over the next 50 years, over 
73 million lives were cut short, people who would have had long lives 
and accomplished who knows how much. You can imagine how America would 
have changed if those people had actually lived.
  Recently, Roe v. Wade was overturned, and there was a lot of elation 
because of that. However, since that time, I think six States have had 
referendums.
  While it was widely believed that abortion should be illegal in 1973, 
despite the fact that we had ultrasounds at that time, despite the fact 
that again and again in workplaces we pass around pictures with the 
ultrasounds showing children at 3, 4, or 5 months old, American opinion 
was a disappointment. Even in conservative States like Michigan, 
Kansas, Montana, and Kentucky, the public voted pro-abortion.
  What can we make of this? Because we have had the ultrasound in 
between Roe v. Wade and now, we have to say that, unfortunately, the 
people who should have been educating the public have failed to do 
their duty. The churches in the last 50 years allowed this shift of 
opinion to happen.
  By the way, it should have been easy to explain why abortion was 
horrific because of the huge increase in ultrasounds. Instead, we are 
joining a handful of countries--Vietnam, North Korea, Red China--out 
there saying abortion should be legal in some States through birth. Is 
this how we repay our maker for this wonderful country that we have?
  I call upon America to call upon the churches to educate the public 
on what is right and wrong, that every one of these children is a gift 
from God, and that it is time for America to wake up.
  I do believe right now we have, as with so many other issues, a 
problem with the clergy in the country, but I hope Americans can ask 
their clergymen where they are when these decisions are being made all 
around the country and where they are when these referendums are coming 
before the people. We need more help from the mute clergy.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Grothman for his words and 
his commitment to the unborn.

[[Page H273]]

  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Thompson), a champion of life, the chairman of the House Agriculture 
Committee, and my friend.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman 
from Minnesota for her leadership with this incredibly important 
Special Order.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight 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 cemented 
my promise to protect our most vulnerable, the unborn.
  Our Founders enshrined in the Declaration of Independence three 
inalienable rights. The first is the right to life.
  Tonight, we celebrate the right to life. Last year, the Supreme Court 
made it clear, determining the right to an abortion is the 
responsibility of the State, through the people and their elected 
officials.
  Mr. Speaker, life matters. Friday marked the first March for Life 
since the end of Roe v. Wade. Tens of thousands convened in Washington 
to celebrate the change from a national culture of death to one of 
life.
  The evidence that life matters goes well beyond the Supreme Court, 
however, and the Supreme Court ruling that was finally delivered in 
2022, shifting the defense of the innocent unborn to 50 State capitols.

  Here is the evidence of why we should also celebrate, in addition to 
that ruling. In the United States, there are 2,500 pregnancy resource 
centers that support unborn babies and their parents. There are only 
800 abortion clinics in this Nation. That is an amazing shift in 
numbers. Of the practicing OB/GYN doctors, 90 percent do not perform 
abortions.
  God bless the pregnancy resource center staff that educate, 
encourage, and empower men and women to make informed life choices 
based on Christian principles and values, their trained client 
advocates and medical personnel, including registered nurses, certified 
phlebotomy technicians, and registered diagnostic medical sonographers.
  Mr. Speaker, my position on life has always been clear. You can't be 
a champion for the future of this great country if you are going to 
limit its potential. It is my strong belief that every child, every 
human life, is sacred and has a purpose in this world.
  Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
for his steadfast commitment to the unborn and strong support of the 
right to life.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank all of my colleagues who spoke this evening for 
standing up to give a voice to the voiceless unborn children, for 
standing up for life. Our Conference will continue to be strong for 
mothers and their unborn children.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________