[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 4 (Monday, January 29, 2007)]
[Pages 56-57]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Telephone Remarks to the 
March for Life

January 22, 2007

    Yes, Nellie, thank you. Thank you very much, Nellie. And I want to 
thank everybody there for taking part in today's March for Life. I 
appreciate so very much the devotion to such an honorable cause, and the 
good work everyone is doing to defend life.
    And, Nellie, it's good to hear your voice again, and I thank you 
very much for giving me a chance to visit with you and the crowd that is 
assembled there on the Mall.
    It is important for all Americans to remember that our Declaration 
of Independence states that every person has the right to life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of happiness. It also states that these rights come from 
our Creator and that governments are formed to secure these rights for 
all their citizens. And we believe every human life has value, and we 
pray for the day when every child is welcome in life and protected into 
law.
    Nellie, I want to thank you very much and the Members of Congress 
there who have worked hard to make progress toward this goal over the 
last 6 years. I want the folks assembled there to know that we're making 
progress. We promoted adoption, support parental notification laws, 
ended Federal funding for abortions overseas, and are funding crisis 
pregnancy programs.
    I had the privilege of signing legislation that extends legal 
protection to children who are born despite abortion attempts, allows 
prosecutors to charge those who harm or kill a pregnant woman with 
harming or killing her unborn child as well. I signed into law a ban on 
the cruel practice of partial-birth abortions, and we will vigorously 
defend that law in the courts.
    Nellie, what I'm saying is, is that we're building a culture of life 
here. And I want to thank you and everybody assembled for helping.
    We are a caring nation, and our values should also guide us on how 
we harness the gifts of science. New medical breakthroughs bring the 
hope of cures for terrible diseases and treatments that can improve the 
lives of millions. Our challenge is to make sure that science serves the 
cause of humanity instead of the other way around.
    Last summer I vetoed a bill that would support the taking of 
innocent life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others, and I 
have made it clear to the Congress,

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we must pursue medical advances in the name of life, not at the expense 
of it.
    As we move forward, we've all got to remember that a true culture of 
life cannot be built by changing laws alone. We've all got to work hard 
to change hearts. We will find areas where we can agree and, at the same 
time, work to persuade more of our fellow citizens to join this great 
cause. The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and 
women. And so I say, go forth with confidence that a cause rooted in 
human dignity and appealing to the best instincts of our citizens cannot 
fail.
    Again, Nellie, thank you very much. I appreciate your dedication to 
this important cause. I send my thanks to all there on the Mall. I ask 
for God's blessings on your work and that God continue to bless our 
country.
    Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 12:07 p.m. from Camp David, MD, to march 
participants on the National Mall in Washington, DC. In his remarks, he 
referred to Nellie J. Gray, president, March for Life Education and 
Defense Fund.