[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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