U.S. Representative

Wednesday, April 5, 2000

Speech Before House on Partial Birth Abortion Ban

When the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act was before this body last year, opponents accused proponents of the legislation of bad taste, of offensive conduct. What was that offensive conduct? It was giving an admittedly accurate description of the gruesome procedure by which a baby's body is dismantled and mutilated and its young life painfully and unjustifiably ended. There is agreement. What a sorry spectacle. Unfortunately, ironically, there is no agreement -- no consensus on an even sorrier spectacle, an even greater outrage. That outrage is not a description of a partial birth abortion, it is the partial birth abortion itself. Imagine a society too humane and too caring to permit the discussion of such a heinous act, but one which at the same time not only permits, but defends this outrageous offense against humanity, liberty and justice.

Do not all of us have the compassion to agree that this should never happen to any human person? A violation of our God given dignity. Is not every partial birth abortion an offense against humanity: does it not weaken our conscience, harden our heart, and dull our mind. I submit to you that every innocent life taken by this procedure makes America less caring, less respectful of others, and leaves behind only feelings of guilt. Each procedure leaves scars that can last forever in our memory, in our hearts, and in our consciences.

We in America like to consider ourselves a compassionate people. We pride ourselves on wanting to protect the weak, to help those in need. But we refuse to acknowledge the suffering of baby whose skull is cracked and whose brain is sucked out. Yet this happens at least 5,000 times each year in America. That means that every day 14 babies die hidden from our view. Babies need our protection, our care, and our concern. We have been elected to protect those who need our help, to make a difference in the lives of others. I for one feel the weight of knowing that all of those babies suffer so much and so needlessly. We have the power to stop their suffering, and to end this barbaric procedure.

A mother's womb is where a baby should feel safest, free from all harm and literally surrounded by love. Every partial birth abortion is a failure of love. Every partial birth abortion is a failure of justice. And every partial birth abortion is an unnecessary procedure. Not only are these types of brutal degradations not required, the AMA says they should never happen in a medically advanced country like ours.

Let us all agree to go beyond partisan ways of thinking and consider what is really at stake: the life of an innocent, weak, and defenseless human person who needs our protection. Does not each justice and conscience and respect for life cry out for passage of this legislation?

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