[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 357]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             MARCH FOR LIFE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
the March for Life, which will take place this Friday, January 22nd. It 
marks the 37th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. 
Wade. I will head to the march on Friday with the knowledge that 
abortions in this country are declining: 1.21 million a year in 2005, 
the latest reliable figures available show, compared to 1.36 million 
some 10 years ago.
  But hundreds of thousands of pilgrims will be here to deliver one 
message: There is a right to life. It is an integral part of the 
Declaration of Independence so painstakingly penned by our Founding 
Fathers.
  Busloads of those marchers of all stripes will be from my district in 
Pennsylvania. They will be leaving home at very early hours that 
morning, and actually the night before to get here to stand for that 
cause, to stand for life. And they will be joining the gathering of 
pro-life Americans to march down Constitution until they reach the 
steps of the Supreme Court.
  Abortion has been a part of the health care debate, and may still 
keep current bills from passing. No taxpayer should be forced to pay 
for abortions in this country. That policy has been reaffirmed many 
times by this Congress, and should not be changed for the current 
circumstances. And I ask my colleagues to join in this march on Friday, 
and to help celebrate the gift of life.
  On December 2, 2009, I joined 39 of my House colleagues in sending 
Speaker Pelosi a letter regarding a prohibition on the government 
funding of abortion in the final version of the health care 
legislation.

                              {time}  1700

  A significant majority of Americans, both those that identify 
themselves as pro-life and pro-choice, are opposed to the government 
funding of abortions.
  The Senate-passed health care bill, H.R. 1362, would require Federal 
funds to subsidize elective abortion. This plan differs greatly from 
the House version that maintains the current policy of preventing the 
Federal funding of abortion and for funding of health care benefit 
packages that include abortion.
  Mr. Speaker, any health care reform proposals that this Chamber 
agrees to must always place a high value on protecting innocent life. 
These provisions should include the language found within the Stupak-
Pitts amendment, which passed this Chamber by a wide bipartisan margin 
of 240-194.
  Mr. Speaker, as we take up any health care, let us preserve the 
Founders' dedication to the principle of life.

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