[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S69-S70]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MARCH FOR LIFE
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, last Friday, during the annual March for
Life, it was once again encouraging to see tens of thousands of young
Americans travel to the National Mall to show their support for the
most important human rights issue of our time: the right to life.
This year, we celebrate the 50th year that the March for Life has
taken place, marking a significant, multigenerational milestone for
this celebration of the sanctity of life. The fact that this event is
now in its 50th year is a testament to the truth and justice of our
mission.
I thank and congratulate everyone who kept this movement alive for
the past five decades, and I especially want to thank all the brave
pro-life Americans who made their voices heard as part of the March for
Life.
For half a century now, Americans have brought their voices to
Washington to halt the mass elective abortions of perhaps a million
unborn American lives every year in our Nation.
Abortion is not a political issue to me; it is a human rights issue.
And this is not a political battle we fight but, rather, the tip of the
spear in a spiritual battle for the heart and soul of this Nation.
This year's momentous March for Life truly was a celebration, as our
Nation's Supreme Court has finally freed us from the undemocratic, pro-
abortion decision forced on the American people in 1973. My prayer is
that our God will heal the emotional and physical wounds that were
ripped open across this Nation by this ruling.
As we celebrate this victory for life, all of us should pause and
thank God for giving us a majority of Supreme Court Justices who had
the courage to overturn Roe v. Wade. This Supreme Court, by an
overwhelming 6-to-3 ruling, defied the left's mob-style intimidation
tactics, and in too many extreme cases, they overcame even the vile
threats on their lives as well as on their families' safety and
privacy.
The Court's majority stuck to constitutional principles and cast
aside the pro-abortion status quo even in the face of threats by the
current Senate majority party and its current majority leader. The way
our Justices stood up to the opposition represents true leadership and
the very best of America.
Let us commend our Republican Senate leader and the Senators who
fought for the lives of the unborn, who, when we had control of the
White House and the Senate, had the courage, the fortitude, the
willpower, and the know-how to shepherd three principled Justices
through the confirmation process and ascend to the highest Court in the
land.
This tremendous lifegiving decision also would not have happened
without Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and her team, who
championed their State's pro-life law. They forever etched their place
in history.
The rights and lives of millions of American human beings are now
protected as a result of the Dobbs decision.
As an obstetrician, I had the honor and privilege to deliver over
5,000 babies, and I want all those who stood tall in the March for Life
last Friday to know that, just like I fought for those babies in the
delivery room, I am going to continue the fight beside you to protect
the sanctity of life and to show our Nation that Congress values these
precious lives as well.
At the Federal level, we, of course, have much more work to do on
this issue. We must continue to ensure taxpayer dollars do not fund
abortions so millions of Americans are not forced to violate our own
beliefs.
We must combat this administration's effort to remove conscience
protections for medical professionals--doctors, nurses, ultrasound
techs, and so many others--who object to participating in abortion.
Perhaps most urgently, we must reimplement safety restrictions on the
abortion pill. This unprecedented mass distribution of this pill by
mail and over the counter that this administration is pushing will lead
to thousands of women using it incorrectly, causing medical
emergencies, possibly deaths and fetal malformations. If you don't
believe this can happen, I just encourage you to spend some time in our
emergency rooms, where I and many other doctors treat numerous women
suffering complications from the abortion pill. Most of these patients
are completely unaware of the potential side effects. Many are
misdiagnosed or perhaps victims of just a horrible guess at the
gestational age of the unborn baby.
But I think it is also important that we as a party and Congress also
work to further support legislation to provide resources to moms and
babies in need. This help would include more access to long-term
nutritional, educational, economic, and social support, as well as
healthcare. We must find more compassionate and effective ways to
better encourage pregnant women who are contemplating abortion to
choose life instead. We need to open the doors to pregnancy crisis
centers for assistance throughout and, very importantly, after
the pregnancy. Despite violent attacks, acts of vandalism, and harmful
misinformation directed at these centers, they continue to provide
[[Page S70]]
critically needed services to women all across this country.
I am also committed to dispelling the left's malicious lies about
ectopic pregnancies in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision. As someone
who understands the science and practiced obstetrics for over 25 years
and, frankly, treated hundreds of women with ectopic pregnancies, I
want to state that I agree with the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops. We always have and always will support the treatment
of women suffering from the always-life-threatening condition of an
ectopic pregnancy. The radical activists, who wildly claim ectopic
pregnancies will be left untreated because of this Court decision, are
simply misinformed and dangerously practice fearmongering tactics. For
a physician to not treat ectopic pregnancies would be, No. 1,
unethical, as well as, No. 2, below the standard of care for every
community in America.
Let me close by saying once again, thanks to all of you, the tens of
thousands of Americans who participated in the 50th March for Life, for
courageously and tirelessly fighting for life. Each and every one of
you is my encouragement. You give me the strength and hope to wake up
every day and join my fellow pro-life Senators and millions of pro-life
Americans to fight to protect the sanctity of life. Your being here,
praying together, marching side by side, arm to arm, you strengthen my
resolve, and you can count on me to tirelessly fight to defend and
secure the right to life for all human beings.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from North Carolina.
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