[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6581-6582]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              STANDING FOR LIFE--WE MUST NOT REMAIN SILENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Walker) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on behalf of those who 
cannot speak for themselves.
  As I consider the current state of our Nation's debate about 
abortion, I am a bit puzzled when I hear the word ``health care'' in 
discussing such a topic.
  Unlike procedures for common ailments that would be typically 
associated with the term ``health care,'' abortion has as its very 
object the taking of a human life. The term ``abortion'' forces the 
question: What--or, better said, who--is being terminated? Without a 
doubt, it is clear that abortion ends the life of these little human 
beings.
  Many will want to discuss health care today, but I ask: Who is 
responsible for the health care of the baby? Who among us is assigned 
to protect this most precious life?
  Each baby bears the unique imprint of our Creator, with goodness, 
truth, and beauty to offer the world. Yet these children will never be 
able to grow, play, dream, and reach their full God-given potential.
  My wife, a nurse practitioner, and I faced a very unexpected 
pregnancy in our late thirties. After the shock wore off, we embraced 
the idea of a new little girl who would be part of our family. In fact, 
I have decided to bring a picture of her today.
  I have a great screen shot of the ultrasound 3 months into the 
pregnancy. Interestingly enough, we never referred to her as fetus 
number three. We called her Anna Claire. Just like any of you, parent 
or grandparent, we all take great pride in displaying new life.
  Please allow me to make this clear. I don't speak ill of or despise 
anyone who has made a fateful but very difficult decision. As a former 
minister, I have seen the anguish and the hurt both before and after 
what can be an excruciating process.
  Yet today, we are faced with an historic decision that has nothing to 
do with trade or with budgets but, rather, has everything to do with 
life. In this moment, we have the opportunity to address something that 
many countries have already outlawed.
  Though many of us would prefer legislation that would go even 
further, this bill would impose a simple restriction that follows 
naturally and universally shared rules of humanity and compassion. To 
that end, H.R. 36 protects the unborn child from being aborted after 20 
weeks of gestation.
  Medical science tells us that the baby fights for survival in a 
second or third trimester abortion. He or she recoils in pain at the 
poison intended to stop their heart and the clamps used to dismember 
their tiny little body. We cannot deny this evidence. We must not look 
the other way.
  While we show compassion to mothers who are facing difficult 
decisions, we must also protect the babies who are surely counted among 
the ``least of these.'' Who will be their voice? God forbid if we don't 
speak out.
  Martin Luther King, Jr., said:
  ``Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that 
matter.''

                              {time}  1015

  When this final page of human story is turned, what will we have done 
to embrace justice, to love mercy, and be a voice for those who have 
none?
  The American people have grown weary of the rhetoric in D.C. 
Attention and being aware is good, but there comes a time when we have 
to move from the awareness stage to the action steps. Today is that 
time.

[[Page 6582]]

  I urge my friends on both sides of this Chamber to break the silence, 
to stand up for life, and support H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn 
Child Protection Act.

                          ____________________