[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 1539-1540]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             SPECIAL ORDER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. AARON SCHOCK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 26, 2009

  Mr. SCHOCK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mourn the anniversary of 
the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Roe v. Wade. My colleagues 
have provided a litany of great arguments against this decision, 
ranging from the legal (the court overstepped its bounds), to the 
scientific (fetal awareness and pain) to even their personal beliefs as 
guided by their religion. As such, let me bring a new perspective to 
this debate.
  I have the unique distinction as being the only member on the Floor 
today to have lived their entire life within the dark shadow cast by 
the Court's decision on January 22, 1973. As

[[Page 1540]]

such, I do not remember the fiery debates the demonstrations or the 
heartache which followed a day which saw a nine-person judicial body 
devoid of medical knowledge singularly arbitrate a question that has 
plagued men for ages, ``when does life begin?''
  What I do know is that this decision has artificially divided the 
country for far too long, creating a single issues litmus test for 
every politician, judge and doctor. And while it seems this country 
will remain divided on this issue, it is my sincere hope that we all 
agree that human life is a precious gift that cannot and should not be 
wasted.
  Throughout my life, women have been able to obtain abortions only to 
realize after the fact the sadness that comes with any death.
  I am left to wonder about potential achievements that America could 
have accomplished had so many of its precious and innocent of citizens 
been given a chance to reach their potential. The future doctors, 
scientists, actors, teachers, policemen, coaches and, yes, even 
politicians that America has missed because nine people decided the 
definition of human vitality. Creating an almost arbitrarily line--
above which exists human life, below which equals a mass of tissue.
  But perhaps more troubling than these lost opportunities is the 
thought process that abortion on demand has created. A 2004 study found 
that women have cited ``social reasons,'' such as feeling unprepared 
for a child or considering themselves too immature to have a child, as 
the reason for an abortion in 93% of the cases. While I do not have 
personal experience, I know from talking to my sisters that they both 
felt woefully unprepared when they were pregnant. They both felt too 
young, worried if they would be a good parent and fretted about their 
children's future. But they had a support structure provided by family, 
friends and their church standing beside them.
  Now I certainly understand that unfortunately not everyone has access 
to the amazing support network that my sisters had, but that is not 
reason to allow abortion, that is reason to provide more services to 
these women, services which can help provide these women the tools to 
make strong decisions, to see the light at the end of the tunnel and 
see that a child is a gift, not a burden.
  I am reminded of this fact when I look into the face of my nieces and 
nephews, I cannot imagine thinking what my life would be like without 
my young nieces and nephews in it. The holidays we've experienced and 
the memories we shared are times I will forever cherish. I am indebted 
to the wisdom these children have shown me though their looks of 
happiness on their faces during birthday celebrations, Christmas 
mornings and family vacations. In fact, just recently, they have given 
me another memory that I will always cherish. I was touched by their 
kindness and support when on the opening day of this Congress, they 
left me letters of congratulations and support on my desk.
  It's the little things they have done and the joys they have brought 
to my life have been unimaginable. I cannot imagine my life without the 
happiness they have brought. I shudder to think how different my life 
would be had my family chosen a natural feeling of worry and self-doubt 
over the gift of life.
  I hope that my fellow Americans will choose life and remember the 
potential for every American. I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________