    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [November 5, 2003]
    [Pages 1466-1467]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on Signing the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
    November 5, 2003

        The President. Thank you very much. Good afternoon. I'm pleased that
    all of you have joined us as the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
    becomes the law of the land. For years, a terrible form of violence has
    been directed against children who are inches from birth, while the law
    looked the other way. Today, at last, the American people and our
    Government have confronted the violence and come to the defense of the
    innocent child.
        I want to thank you all for coming. Many of you have worked long and
    hard to see this bill come to fruition, and we thank you for your
    efforts.
        Audience member. Thank you, Mr. President.
        The President. I see some members of my Cabinet have come. I
    appreciate the good work of the Attorney General, John
    Ashcroft. Secretary of the Department of
    Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson
    is here. Thank you, Tommy.
        There are a lot of Members of the Senate and House here today. I
    want to thank you all for passing this important legislation. I'm glad
    you're here. The primary Senate sponsor is with us, Senator Rick
    Santorum. Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Mike DeWine helped as
    well in the Senate. Thank you all very much. Steve Chabot was the primary House sponsor, and Steve is with us.
    Thanks for coming, Steve. I'm thankful that our Speaker is with us
    today. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate you coming. The majority leader, Tom
    DeLay, as well--thank you for coming, Tom. I'd
    like to mention three other Members of the House. Henry Hyde is with us today. Mr. Chairman, we appreciate you coming.
    Jim Oberstar is with us. Jim, thank you
    for being here, sir. I appreciate you coming. Bart Stupak from Michigan is with us as well. Thanks for coming,
    Bart, glad you're here.

    [[Page 1467]]

        I appreciate His Eminence, Cardinal Egan,
    who's with us today. Thank you very much, sir.
        In passing this legislation, Members of the House and Senate made a
    studied decision based upon compelling evidence. The best case against
    partial-birth abortion is a simple description of what happens and to
    whom it happens. It involves the partial delivery of a live boy or girl
    and a sudden, violent end of that life. Our Nation owes its children a
    different and better welcome. The bill I am about to sign protecting
    innocent new life from this practice reflects the compassion and
    humanity of America.
        In the course of the congressional debate, the facts became clear.
    Each year, thousands of partial-birth abortions are committed. As Dr. C.
    Everett Koop, the pediatrician and former
    Surgeon General, has pointed out, the majority of partial-birth
    abortions are not required by medical emergency. As Congress has found,
    the practice is widely regarded within the medical profession as
    unnecessary, not only cruel to the child but harmful to the mother and a
    violation of medical ethics.
        The facts about partial-birth abortion are troubling and tragic, and
    no lawyer's brief can make them seem otherwise. By acting to prevent
    this practice, the elected branches of our Government have affirmed a
    basic standard of humanity, the duty of the strong to protect the weak.
    The wide agreement amongst men and women on this issue, regardless of
    political party, shows that bitterness in political debate can be
    overcome by compassion and the power of conscience. And the executive
    branch will vigorously defend this law against any who would try to
    overturn it in the courts.
        America stands for liberty, for the pursuit of happiness, and for
    the unalienable right of life. And the most basic duty of Government is
    to defend the life of the innocent. Every person, however frail or
    vulnerable, has a place and a purpose in this world. Every person has a
    special dignity. This right to life cannot be granted or denied by
    Government, because it does not come from Government. It comes from the
    Creator of life.
        In the debate about the rights of the unborn, we are asked to
    broaden the circle of our moral concern. We're asked to live out our
    calling as Americans. We're asked to honor our own standards, announced
    on the day of our founding in the Declaration of Independence. We're
    asked by our convictions and tradition and compassion to build a culture
    of life and make this a more just and welcoming society. And today we
    welcome vulnerable children into the care and protection of Americans.
        The late Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey once said that when we
    look to the unborn child, the real issue is not when life begins but
    when love begins. This is the generous and merciful spirit of our
    country at its best. This spirit is reflected in the Partial-Birth
    Abortion Ban Act of 2003, which I am now honored to sign into law.
        God bless.

    [At this point, the President signed the bill.]

        The President. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:40 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building and
    International Trade Center. In his remarks, he referred to Edward
    Cardinal Egan, Archdiocese of New York. S. 3, approved November 5, was
    assigned Public Law No. 108-105. The Office of the Press Secretary also
    released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.