[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H4229-H4234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF DOBBS DECISION
(Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2025, Mr. Moore
of Utah was recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority
leader.)
General Leave
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the topic of this Special
Order.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, today marks the fourth anniversary of
the Dobbs decision, reaffirming that
[[Page H4230]]
the U.S. Constitution does not grant the right to an abortion and
rightfully returning the regulatory authority to State legislators.
I am excited to welcome my colleagues to speak on this topic with me.
I understand some of my colleagues have commitments. I want to be
respectful of the time, so I will have them start us off before I
provide my own comments, of course.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and
colleague for his distinguished leadership. He has been tenacious.
Mr. Speaker, we have people who will be speaking and some who
couldn't be here who have never given up in trying to protect and
preserve the lives of women and children from the violence of abortion.
Four years ago today, the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson decision,
brilliantly authored by Justice Sam Alito, who is from my hometown of
Hamilton in New Jersey, reversed the infamous holdings of Roe v. Wade
and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. That decision stated the Constitution
does not confer a right to abortion, and the authority to regulate
abortion is returned to the people and their elected Representatives.
{time} 1740
After a half century of death--and it continues, but, hopefully, it
will be mitigated and maybe ended in time, but a half century of death,
more than 65 million unborn children have been violently killed by
either dismemberment, decapitation, or chemical poisoning of some kind
through this terrible, terrible policy of abortion on demand.
Thankfully, as a response to this, many States--21 and counting--have
responded by passing pro-life laws to protect unborn children and women
from the violence of abortion. For example, Georgia, Iowa, Florida, and
South Carolina passed laws to protect the unborn child when a heartbeat
can be detected at about 6 weeks. Thirteen States, including Texas,
protect the lives of unborn children throughout the entirety of
pregnancy.
I remind my colleagues that the abortion President, Joe Biden, also
acted after Dobbs was enacted. In response to the decision, his Food
and Drug Administration allowed women to receive mifepristone, the baby
poison, through the mail and without any in-person consultation with a
healthcare provider.
This dangerous drug is used now to cause at least 6 out of 10
abortions in the United States. How does it operate? It starves the
baby to death.
I work on global hunger issues and food insecurity all the time. I
find it outrageous that there is a chemical administered that literally
causes the baby to die from malnutrition. It also then expels the baby,
and what results is a dead, badly dehydrated and, sadly, hurt, killed
baby.
One recent study found that mifepristone is extremely dangerous to
women, as well. One in 11 women--10.93 percent to be exact. It was the
biggest study ever done on mifepristone--experienced a serious adverse
event, sepsis, infection, and hemorrhaging within 45 days of taking the
drug. The number of serious adverse events is at least 22 times higher
than what the FDA has previously suggested, which was based on
egregiously flawed data.
The FDA must now move quickly to investigate the impact of this baby
poison not just on the baby but on the mother, as well.
Meanwhile, pro-life lawmakers, including those of us who are pro-life
in this Chamber, will continue to write, advocate for, and pass laws to
nurture and protect human life.
I suggest to my colleagues that the injustice of abortion violence
need not be forever.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for his
comments.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).
Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, it is great to be here to rise for this occasion, to
recognize the fourth anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson, where the Supreme
Court returned the power to protect the unborn to elected officials and
not to an appointed court. The Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade
was a landmark moment in the effort to protect the most vulnerable and
to give those babies the guarantee of right to life and liberty.
Today is really a day of celebration, but this is also a day of
remembrance of the countless lives that we also, on the other hand,
have to remember. While we celebrate on one hand, we also commemorate
all of the lives that were lost during that flawed decision back in
1974 and all those who still need our protection even today.
I am deeply proud of my home State of Alabama. Our policies there are
pro-life, but in many States, the lives of the unborn remain
vulnerable. As the chairman of the House Values Action Team, I remain
committed to fighting and advocating in Congress to expand our efforts
and ensure a safe future for our Nation's children, born and unborn.
I have said this before and I will continue to say that I am pro-
life, I am pro-family, and I am pro-child.
Since the Dobbs decision in 2022, I have introduced the Protect
Funding for Women's Healthcare Act to continue standing for life by
ensuring that Federal tax dollars are not used to fund organizations
such as Planned Parenthood.
I will continue to work with my colleagues to defend the sanctity of
life, to protect the unborn, and ensure a safer future for our Nation's
children. Let me be clear. Our work is not finished, and this week's
recognition for the Dobbs anniversary is a good time to reaffirm our
unyielding commitment to standing up for the importance of every single
human life.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Alabama
for his comments, he is a leader on this issue and always a good voice.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Mann).
Mr. MANN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from Utah
for hosting this Special Order hour. I thank him for his leadership as
the vice chair of our Conference. This is important.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the fourth anniversary of the
Dobbs Supreme Court decision. Dobbs was a historic and long-overdue
victory for life. It corrected the great mistake of Roe v. Wade and
returned the question of abortion policy to the American people and
their elected representatives. For nearly 50 years, Roe distorted our
Constitution and denied States the ability to enact laws that reflect
the will of the people and protect the most vulnerable among us.
Thankfully, Dobbs restored that authority. In the years since,
legislators across the country have acted to defend unborn children,
support mothers, and affirm the dignity of human life.
Now, 4 years later, the work is far from finished. Far too many
unborn children are still lost to abortion each year, and dangerous
abortion drugs are being pushed across State lines, often without a
doctor's visit, undermining the laws of pro-life States and putting
women and unborn children at risk.
America was founded on the self-evident truth that every person is
created equal and endowed by our creator with inherent dignity and the
right to life. That right is the foundation of every other right that
we enjoy. If we fail to protect life at its earliest and most
vulnerable stage, we weaken the very principles that this great Nation
was built upon.
As a father and person of faith, I believe that every child is
fearfully and wonderfully made by God, every life has value, every
child has purpose, and no child is a mistake.
Congress must continue advancing life-affirming policies, supporting
mothers and families, defending longstanding protections like the Hyde
amendment, strengthening adoption and foster care, and standing with
the pregnancy centers and community organizations that serve women in
need every day.
Dobbs was the new beginning in our pro-life movement. We must
continue working, praying, and building a culture where every life is
welcomed, valued, and protected.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Kansas for
his comments.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller).
Mrs. MILLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Vice Chair Moore for
[[Page H4231]]
hosting this important Special Order commemorating one of the greatest
triumphs in our pursuit to protect the lives of the unborn.
June 24, 2022, will forever be one of the greatest days in American
history. After 50 years of peacefully praying outside clinics and
marching in Washington, Roe v. Wade is no more. While the Dobbs
decision was a monumental victory, the fight for life has only just
begun.
Many States have stepped up to the plate, with over half of them
enacting laws protecting the unborn. However, blue States have doubled
down on the murderous assault of the unborn.
Sadly, my home State of Illinois, is one of those States and has
become the destination State of the Midwest for abortions. In 2023 we
recorded the most abortions ever in our State's history, and Illinois'
Governor proudly signed legislation allowing abortions through 9 months
of pregnancy.
Since the Biden administration rescinded safety regulations for
chemical abortions, women are being harmed, and our water supply is
being severely contaminated.
Democrats oppose safety regulations. They oppose information on the
development of the baby. They are not pro-choice. They are pro-
abortion. They don't want the mother to know that there are two humans
involved, different blood types, different sex, different heart rates,
and ultimately, within months, two distinct human beings.
Republicans are the party of life, and we must protect both mom and
baby. That is why I have introduced legislation like H.R. 796, the
Second Chance for Moms Act, which would require the FDA to place a
warning label on chemical abortion drugs so that women can reverse the
chemical abortion before it is too late.
I have also introduced H.R. 797, the Ultrasounds Save Lives Act,
which would mandate an ultrasound be performed before an abortion can
take place. The ultrasound is a window to the womb. Up to 80 percent of
women who get an ultrasound before attempting an abortion change their
minds and choose life.
{time} 1750
The Dobbs decision ended the greatest human rights violation of our
time, but the work has just begun.
Republicans stand ready to support women facing crisis pregnancies,
not just with words but with actions.
I again thank Vice Chair Moore for commemorating this important
anniversary.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from
Illinois. I appreciate her message of women and babies and the support
that she has put forth in actual legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs.
Harshbarger).
Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Utah for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the fourth anniversary of one of
the most consequential decisions in the history of our Supreme Court,
and that is Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, the Supreme Court corrected a 50-year wrong
and returned the question of life back to where it has always belonged,
and that is to the American people and to their elected
representatives. This was a historic victory for life and the rule of
law.
But today is not just a day to celebrate a court decision. It is a
day to recommit ourselves to the work that remains, and there is still
a lot of work to do.
As a mother, a grandmother, and a lifelong advocate for life, I have
always believed that the pro-life movement is fundamentally a movement
of deep affection and love: love for mothers facing impossible choices,
love for families navigating the unexpected, and love for the most
vulnerable among us--the unborn, who have no voice.
That love is showing up in communities across the country. In 2024
alone, pregnancy centers provided over 1 million women with services
valued at more than $452 million. That is free ultrasounds, free natal
care, diapers, car seats, and so much more. And for every Planned
Parenthood, there are 15 pregnancy resource centers ready to serve
women with real support and real choices.
That is the true face of the pro-life movement.
Here in Congress we have continued to act. Earlier this year, the
House passed the Supporting Pregnancy and Parenting Women and Families
Act and Pregnant Students' Rights Act because we know that protecting
life means supporting mothers before, during, and after pregnancy.
President Trump's HHS stood up for moms.gov, and that was inspired by
my Pregnancy.Gov Act to connect expecting mothers with the resources
they truly need.
These are the kinds of life-affirming policies we should be building
on.
But I want to be direct about where we still fall short. Since Dobbs,
abortions in this country have actually increased by nearly 400,000 a
year.
Why is that?
It is because the Biden-Harris administration spent 4 years
dismantling every commonsense safeguard around chemical abortion drugs.
They allowed mifepristone to be ordered online, shipped through the
mail, and dispensed without a doctor ever seeing the patient.
As a pharmacist for almost 40 years, that is not patient care. That
is recklessness.
Democrats have made their agenda very clear. Nearly every House
Democrat has signed on to legislation that would impose abortion on
demand until birth wiping out every pro-life protection at the State
and Federal level, and we cannot let that stand.
Dobbs gave us the tools. Now it is our job to use them. I will not
stop fighting for life in every form at every stage.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from
Tennessee for her voice on this.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Mrs.
Fischbach), my good friend.
Mrs. FISCHBACH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the vice chair for putting
together this important Special Order to commemorate the historic Dobbs
v. Jackson decision.
I also thank the other Members, the pro-life Members who took the
time tonight to come here and talk about this incredibly critical issue
of making sure that we are taking care of mothers and children.
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled: ``The Constitution does
not confer a right to abortion. Roe and Casey are overruled; and the
authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their
elected representatives.''
That decision was a tremendous step to protect the valuable right to
life. It overturned the unconstitutional Roe v. Wade, which created a
false right to abortion for almost 50 years.
This decision was a victory for the unborn, a victory for families,
and a victory for our entire Nation. Most importantly, Dobbs has been a
victory for life itself.
In the 4 years since that landmark day, countless children are alive
today who might not otherwise be. Families have been made whole, and
the beating hearts of ultrasounds are now running, laughing, and
bringing joy to households across America.
For me, the pro-life movement is personal. As a mother and a
grandmother, I have been blessed to see the miracles of life at every
stage. Those personal milestones drive my work in the pro-life movement
because I believe every woman in this country should be allowed to
experience those same miracles with confidence and support.
To be truly pro-life means so much more than just being opposed to
abortion. It means being prowoman and profamily. When a woman faces an
unexpected pregnancy, our response as a community must be to surround
her with hope. We must be able to look at every mother and say: You are
not alone.
We continue to build on this culture of life through meaningful
action. Months ago, this House took a step forward by passing the
Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act to protect the
pregnancy resource centers that serve on the front lines.
I have also reintroduced the MOMS Act to provide comprehensive
critical support to new mothers during and after pregnancy, ensuring
that they have medical, financial, and the emotional tools to raise
happy, healthy babies.
As we reflect on the momentous Dobbs decision, I hope that we can
take
[[Page H4232]]
inspiration from the dedication of the pro-life community and support
mothers with love, hope, and the right to choose life.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Minnesota
for her remarks.
I yield to the gentlewoman from South Carolina (Mrs. Biggs), one of
our couple of remaining speakers, who I like to refer to these two new
awesome Members as ``the dynamic duo'' from North and South Carolina.
Mrs. BIGGS of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for
leading on this important topic. As a child of God, as a mother, and as
a healthcare provider, this topic is very personal to me.
Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, the Supreme Court made the right decision
in Dobbs and returned the issue of abortion to the American people and
their elected representatives.
For nearly 50 years, Roe v. Wade prevented States from protecting
unborn children and advancing policies that reflected the values of
their citizens.
Dobbs changed that.
Since then, millions of Americans have had a voice in this debate
once again, and countless lives have been protected.
But our work is not finished.
Today, abortion pills account for the majority of abortions in
America, and women are increasingly being prescribed these drugs
without an in-person medical examination and with little
accountability.
That is why I am introducing legislation to strengthen safeguards
surrounding the dispensing of abortion drugs and to ensure that women
receive the care and protections they deserve.
As we mark this anniversary, I remain committed to defending the
unborn, to supporting mothers, and building a culture that values every
human life.
{time} 1800
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield to Mr. Harris from North
Carolina, the second half of the dynamic duo from the Carolinas.
Mr. HARRIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank Vice Chairman
Moore so much for being willing to host this very Special Order.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on this very special anniversary, the
fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson
Women's Health Organization.
As has already been stated, 4 years ago, the Supreme Court overturned
Roe v. Wade and returned the issue of abortion to the American people
and their elected representatives. For nearly 50 years, Roe kept States
and citizens from fully using their laws to protect unborn children.
Today, we celebrate Dobbs as a victory for the God-given right to
life and for the pro-life laws that have protected hundreds of
thousands of unborn children since that decision.
Next week, our Nation will celebrate 250 years since the signing of
the Declaration of Independence. At our very founding, America declared
that every person is endowed by our creator with a right to life. That
right belongs to the unborn as surely as it belongs to any one of us.
Every child, born and unborn, is made in the image of God. That gives
every child a dignity that no court can create, and no government can
deny. Long before a child is seen by the world, that child is seen and
known by God and is worthy of protection.
As a father of 3 and a grandfather of 11, I have seen the blessings
of children being brought into this world. Through my own family, I
know they are among the greatest gifts the Lord gives. Each one
deserves the opportunity to be born.
The work of protecting life is far from over, especially as chemical
abortion by mail continues to expand across this country. Today, women
can order chemical abortion drugs online and receive them at home
without ever seeing a doctor in person.
Under the Biden administration, the FDA recklessly removed the in-
person dispensing requirement for mifepristone, opening the door for
abortion drugs to be sent by mail without direct medical oversight.
These drugs end the life of an unborn child. When they are
distributed this way, mothers can be left to face the risks alone.
Without an in-person visit, a woman may not receive proper screening
for complications. No woman should be sent abortion drugs through the
mail and left to face the pain and the aftermath by herself.
My bill that I have introduced, the Teleabortion Prevention Act of
2025, would make it a Federal offense for doctors to send chemical
abortion drugs through the mail without providing in-person care
before, during, and after the abortion.
As we continue toward the day when every unborn child is protected in
law, this bill is a necessary step. It puts essential safeguards back
in place and holds providers accountable.
Mr. Speaker, 4 years after Dobbs, the fight for life is not finished.
Congress must continue to defend the sanctity of every human life.
On this anniversary, we remember the children who were never given
the chance to live; we fight for the children still at risk; and we
stand with the mothers who deserve to know that life is still possible.
Again, I thank Vice Chairman Moore for leading this Special Order.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, that was a great message from the
gentleman from North Carolina, and I appreciate his voice on this
matter.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Johnson),
the current Speaker of the House, who is taking time out of his very
busy schedule to share some remarks on this most important topic and
anniversary of the Dobbs decision.
Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Blake
Moore, a great champion and great vice chairman of the House Republican
Conference, for yielding. I am so delighted with what he has done with
the office. I thank him for hosting this Special Order hour. It is very
appropriate and a historic moment that we are in.
Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to join all of my colleagues in
celebrating the fourth anniversary of the lifesaving Dobbs decision.
As we know, and I know it has been discussed tonight, that decision
reversed five decades of inhuman social engineering, the murder of tens
of millions of unborn children. Ultimately, it returned the question of
regulating abortion to the people's elected representatives, where it
should have remained the whole time.
I was born 1 year before Roe v. Wade, almost exactly to the day. I
was born in January 1972. Roe was decided in January 1973, as we know.
In my 54 years of life, I will say the Dobbs decision represents the
most consequential and lifesaving decision of my lifetime.
I used to go into the courts, for almost 20 years, as a
constitutional law litigator to defend the sanctity of human life, but
Dobbs was the big one.
Mr. Speaker, think about how many innocent, unborn children have been
lost to the hands of Big Abortion. Estimates suggest it is somewhere
above 65 million lives. I have always believed that is a low estimate
because we know many States do not accurately report abortion numbers.
It is probably much higher than that. That is just the number since Roe
was decided in 1973.
It is just an unconscionable thing. It is an unspeakable evil.
Thankfully, by the grace of God, the Supreme Court finally righted that
egregious wrong.
The conditions that led to that decision did not materialize
overnight. It took a long, long time. From the moment Roe was decided
in 1973, pro-life advocates went to work to pray, organize, build
faithful and effective coalitions, and educate the public on the
scourge of abortion. They did not do that with hate. They were
motivated by love. That is what this has always been about.
We know that mere words of support are not enough. As advocates for
life, we must continue to advocate for and support the heroic mission
of things like the pregnancy resource centers around the country. They
do vital work that is so important. Those centers don't just provide
lifesaving and practical care. They empower women to choose life.
We know the statistics. When a woman sees her unborn child on an
ultrasound, she has about an 86-percent chance of going through with
the pregnancy, to understand that is a child there. No matter how
small, it is a person.
Of course, this anniversary and this year are particularly important.
Next
[[Page H4233]]
Friday, we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence,
our 250th anniversary as a nation.
The Declaration is our Nation's birth certificate. That is how we
describe it all the time, because it is. In that certificate, we boldly
proclaim the self-evident truths that all people are created equally by
God, and all people are endowed by Him, God, our creator, with their
inalienable rights. Of course, that begins, as articulated in the
Declaration, with the right to life, logically.
We still have work to do to continue building a culture of life. We
still have work to ensure that we are living up to the ideals espoused
in the Declaration. Tonight, we should let these anniversaries serve as
calls to action, to continue building a culture of life and to advance
policies that protect the sanctity and the dignity of every human life.
I again thank my good friend, a great champion for the rights of the
unborn, Vice Chairman Blake Moore, for organizing this Special Order.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana,
the Speaker, more aptly known by the more prominent title of former
vice chair.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate his voice. It is such an important, unique
voice, from a law background to legislative on this very important
topic.
I am very much looking forward to hearing from our last speaker this
evening, the gentlewoman from Florida, who has a very unique
experience, being able to talk about this, having just had a child
herself. I couldn't think of a better way to end.
I thank all of my colleagues for being willing to come down and carve
out extra time from our busy schedules to come talk about this very
important issue. I am looking forward to hearing her remarks.
Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack).
Mrs. CAMMACK. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from the great State
of Utah, the very esteemed and important vice chair, the most important
title for hosting this Special Order, marking an incredible and
important anniversary.
Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs
returned one of the most important questions in our society to the
American people and their elected representatives.
Since then, there has been a lot of rhetoric, a lot of fear, and a
lot of misinformation. In fact, we have heard some of it tonight.
I know this all too well because I have lived it personally. See, 2
years after Dobbs, I experienced one of the most dangerous pregnancy
complications a woman can face, an ectopic pregnancy. My baby had no
heartbeat. Without treatment, I could have lost my life.
Doctors warned that if the pregnancy ruptured, the window to save me
could be measured in minutes--not hours, not days, minutes.
I was accused of a number of things, things like special treatment
and calling in favors. The truth is, it is a lie. I had no special
treatment. There were no favors to call in.
Instead, I fought and advocated. I sat in the ER and read the doctors
the law right from my phone. They had hesitated due to confusion.
{time} 1810
What shocked me most was the confusion surrounding my care. It was
not because Florida's law had been presented a particular way. It
expressly protected women like me. It expressly said in statute that
ectopic pregnancies are medical emergencies. The confusion, in fact,
came from misinformation from pro-abortion activists who had geofenced
hospitals with digital ads convincing healthcare providers that they
would face consequences for providing lifesaving care and convincing
them that treating miscarriages and ectopics is an abortion.
It is not. It never has been, not in Florida, not in any State, not
by the medical establishment, and, heck, not even by Planned
Parenthood. Planned Parenthood has even stated this.
This is an uncomfortable fact that the pro-abortion lobby is fighting
like hell to change.
While my husband and I were going through this hell, I kept asking:
What happens to the woman who doesn't know the law? What happens to her
if she is scared, alone, or too sick to fight for herself?
What if she doesn't have a doctor? What if she doesn't have a car to
get to help?
Four years after Dobbs, it is clear that we need a whole heck of a
lot less political theater and a whole heck of a lot more honest
conversations. We need to support women who face miscarriages,
stillbirths, and ectopic pregnancies, and we dang sure need better
maternal healthcare.
We need facts instead of fear. The pro-abortion lobby would love for
Americans to believe that a ``wanted pregnancy'' is a precious baby
worthy of protection and love while simultaneously labeling an
``unwanted pregnancy'' merely a clump of cells that does not deserve
love or protection.
Both cannot be true at the same time. That is not a political
opinion. That is the most basic principle in all of human reasoning.
Aristotle called this the principle of noncontradiction. A thing cannot
both be and not be the same thing simultaneously.
It is the pro-abortion lobby's position that they are hoping
Americans abandon logic in order to accept a narrative that is false.
Calling it out is the least that we can do. Pushing back and having
this national conversation about how we protect women is long overdue,
and we need to remember that behind every statistic is a family, a baby
who was loved, and a mother whose life matters.
Recently, I introduced the Bereaved Parents Rights Act. This bill
would allow the parents to collect their children's remains so they can
properly grieve their lost children. We must remember that these are
children. They are worthy of life, protection, and love, and we must
fight for them every single day along with their parents. That is the
work that is ahead of us. It is a conversation that is not just worth
having, it is an issue worth fighting for.
Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate 4 years of saving lives and many more
to come.
Mr. MOORE of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman and my
colleague from Florida. I appreciate her words.
I wanted to just end with a few remarks myself, Mr. Speaker, as we
wrap up this evening's Special Order on this very important topic.
Today is an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come to protect
the right to life and supporting children, women, and families.
Today marks the fourth anniversary of the Dobbs decision reaffirming
that the U.S. Constitution does not grant the right to an abortion and
rightfully returns regulatory authority to State legislators. It is
very plain, and it is very simple. That is what took place 4 years ago.
This decision provided the ability for more comprehensive care,
representation, and opportunity for life, and it ensured that States
like Utah can make decisions that align with our pro-life and pro-
family values.
As a husband and father of four young boys, this is personal.
Children are our future, and we must work harder to ensure every child
and their mothers have the opportunity and resources to thrive and
succeed.
At the end of my first year in office, my youngest son, Franklin, was
born. Frankie had an H-type fistula that conjoined his trachea and his
esophagus. It is a very rare disease, and he is fortunate to have
amazing healthcare. Utah's Primary Children's Hospital is one of the
foremost advanced places that actually does this surgery quite a bit.
I will never forget that holding him in the hospital just reminded me
of our responsibility in Congress to value and protect the miracle of
life and come alongside women who are also in difficult circumstances.
Since then, I have worked hard to pass pro-family legislation making
life for working parents easier so no one has to choose between keeping
their child and maintaining a livelihood.
I championed legislation to increase and make permanent the child tax
credit, to make adoption much more affordable, and to create investment
accounts for children providing them a financial launchpad to ease the
burden of tuition, internship housing, transportation, and so much
more.
By means of investment accounts for kids, they are going to start
saving for
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their retirement at the age of zero as opposed to typically at the age
of 30 when we finally get around to doing that.
No one has given credit to our bill last year that literally
established investment accounts for children, for babies, for babies
born in the next 4 years to get a seeded $1,000 to start an investment
account to give them opportunities to help them along the path of life.
Of course, people aren't drawing that correlation. They are not
making that connection. We are not hearing from my colleagues on the
left that we are doing things that are actually pro-family and actually
pro-life. This particular issue just becomes a very toxic and horrible
debate back and forth. However, when we actually look at what we have
done, we are trying to focus on that next generation.
Sincerely, giving investment accounts to children, Trump accounts,
starting them off on the path towards accruing something that they
would have otherwise maybe never even invested in, they are going to
start that when they are zero. All they have to do is sign up for it.
We are focused on life, and we are focused on improving families.
There is no question about it. Our policies are directly related
towards it.
As a member of both the House Values Action Team and Congressional
Pro-Life Caucus, I have stood up to attempts to increase access to
abortion, advocated for language restricting Federal funding for
abortion, and signed legal briefs opposing mail-order abortion pills
and requirements for employers to give time off for abortions.
Our focus in Congress should be focused on ensuring that every child
has opportunities, no matter the circumstances of their conception or
birth, and that pregnant women and mothers have the resources they need
to be supported throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
I am proud of the progress we have made since that decision 4 years
ago. We have passed legislation to support critical, comprehensive
services for women in need, make it easier for working-class families
to earn money and raise children, and support the rights and dignity of
our most vulnerable.
Yes, we have much more work to do. The right to life is paramount,
and I am eager to continue our work on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues who have all shared messages
tonight, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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