[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TREATING ABORTION SURVIVORS HUMANELY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Luttrell) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LUTTRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss H.R. 26, the 
Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act that passed out of the 
House last week unanimously on one side but divided on the other, 
except for one vote from a colleague from Texas.
  I understand that the Nation is divided on the topic of abortion, but 
that is not what this bill is. This bill is to protect a living soul 
that survived a traumatic event.
  This is one that I have been losing sleep over, and I wanted to add 
my perspective from someone who fought in two wars. What I don't 
understand is why we are divided because when I was overseas and my 
teammates and I, my brothers and sisters in arms, were actively 
engaging the Taliban, al-Qaida, ISIS, and at any moment, whether it was 
an ambush or an IED, if a hostile act was being presented to us and 
that individual relinquished their weapons, decreased their aggressive 
posture, we were to do the exact same.
  If that terrorist, if that individual, was injured or shot, we were 
to render medical aid. We were to act humanely even after they just 
tried to kill us. If necessary, we would life-flight them to the same 
hospital that an American soldier would go to, period.
  That rule of law was passed out of this body unanimously. Every 
Member in this House demanded that American soldiers treat every human 
humanely, period.
  That rule protects individuals that, because of the color of your 
skin, they would crucify, torture, and kill you; that because of your 
religious practices, if it was not in accordance with theirs, they 
would lock you in a cage and throw you in a lake. If they did not agree 
with who you were, what you were, and how you were, they would 
mercilessly hunt you down and execute you.
  What I don't understand is how this body could unanimously pass a law 
that would protect somebody who absolutely despises our way of life, 
but we cannot come together to protect an innocent child that survived 
an abortion. I don't understand that.
  I know that everyone in here is a mother, a father, a grandparent, an 
aunt, or an uncle, and at any moment walking down the street, if there 
was a child in duress, you would kill yourself to get to them and save 
them, but because this child survived abortion, you are going to turn 
your back and vote not to give them medical care.
  If this ever presents itself back to this body, I humbly take a knee 
and ask that you change your vote and vote ``yes'' to protect these 
children.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to address their 
remarks to the Chair.

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