Abortion

Floor Speech

ABORTION -- (House of Representatives - January 21, 2009)

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Mr. PENCE. I thank the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey for his moral leadership, not only for organizing this discussion tonight among our cherished colleagues but for a lifetime of
counsels between mothers and daughters, between grandmothers and granddaughters, women who themselves were victimized by abortion. I believe we are telling the most cherished younger women in their lives the truth, and attitudes are changing across kitchen tables and over coffee in living rooms.

And that's why I believe that life is winning in America. But that doesn't obviate the need for us to Take action here on Capitol Hill, and action we will take, not only as we prepare to respond to what may be an eminent executive order upending one of the most popular restrictions on foreign aid in recent American history. There are rumors, Mr. Speaker, that the so-named Mexico City Policy will be overturned by our new President, and we prepare to make a case on behalf of American taxpayers and on behalf of pro-life Americans of the wrong decisions if it comes to pass. We also prepare ourselves in the legislative process to both defend and advance the cause of life.

Just moments ago, with 63 original cosponsors, I reintroduced legislation that I brought to this floor in the last Congress, the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act.

It comes as a surprise to many to learn that the largest recipient of nonabortion Federal taxpayer dollars through title 10 is the largest abortion provider in America. Most Americans don't realize that.

Let me say that again, that the largest recipient of Federal funding through title 10 is the largest abortion provider in America.

Now, Planned Parenthood, that recipient, will be very quick to say that, well, title 10 can't go to providing or promoting abortion services, and that is certainly true, but it doesn't change the fact that the largest abortion provider in America is also the recipient of literally tens of millions of dollars in Federal taxpayer money that go into their nonabortion related activities.

Our legislation, reintroduced today with broad support and in the last Congress, cosponsored by nearly 200 of our colleagues, would restrict any Federal family planning funds from going to organizations like Planned Parenthood, who perform abortions on demand or for any reason, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure.

With this I close. I believe that life is winning in America because there is a moral reawakening on this issue. It's happening in the quiet counsels of the home and the workplace and in faith communities. But that doesn't change the fact that we must take a stand on this floor, on the National Mall tomorrow and in all of our communities on behalf of the unborn.

It would be William Wilberforce who said famously of his long multi-decade struggle against the scourge of slavery, he said, ``Never, never will we desist till we ..... extinguish every trace of this bloody traffic, of which our posterity, looking back to the history of these enlightened times will scarce believe that it has been suffered to exist so long a disgrace and dishonor to this country.''

Strong words, but I believe they are words that resonate with the conscience of a Nation. America is great because America is good, and at the very center of the American experiment is the belief in the value and the sanctity of every human life. Until we restore that principle to the very center of the rule of law in this very Nation, we risk the ongoing vitality of the American experiment. I believe it with all my heart.

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