PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BAN ACT OF 2000 -- (Extensions of Remarks - April
12, 2000)
[Page: E548]
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SPEECH OF
HON. SPENCER BACHUS
OF ALABAMA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, April 5, 2000
- Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, 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 act 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 being? 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 a 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 being
who needs our protection. Does not justice and conscience and respect for life
cry out for passage of this legislation?
END