The publication is reproduced in full below:
ROE V. WADE
______
speech of
HON. JAKE LaTURNER
of kansas
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 3, 2021
Mr. LaTURNER. Madam Speaker, this past January 22 marked the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. Now more than ever, America must continue to unapologetically stand for the sanctity of all human life. As the representative of Kansas' Second Congressional District, my constituents can be assured that I will always protect pro-life values at home and in Washington. I promised that I would be a fearless pro-life advocate throughout my public service, and I will keep my word to those who elected me.
In Kansas, I am proud to put my full support behind the ``Value Them Both Amendment'' that recently passed the Kansas Legislature. Currently, there is a legal basis for an unrestricted, unlimited abortion access in Kansas due to the Hodes & Nauser v. Schmidt decision handed down by our liberal Kansas Supreme Court. The Value Them Both Amendment will allow for commonsense regulation on the abortion industry that protects babies and mothers. Thankfully, both the Kansas House and Senate passed the constitutional amendment by a two-thirds vote. Now the voters of Kansas will have the final say during a statewide election in 2022, where I am confident Kansans will choose life.
I will always unapologetically defend the sanctity of all human life, especially the most vulnerable among us--the unborn. I promised that I would be a fearless pro-life advocate throughout my public service, and I will keep my word to those who elected me to serve in Congress. After being sworn into office on January 3rd, I immediately joined the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus as my first congressional caucus and cosponsored several key pieces legislation which would defund Planned Parenthood, prohibit any abortion after 20 weeks, and prohibit the use of federal tax dollars for abortion.
Despite all of this, we are already beginning to see the drastic consequences of the 2020 presidential election for the pro-life community. President Joe Biden is wasting no time to advance his radical pro-abortion agenda. The Biden administration announced that they intend to revoke the Mexico City Policy, which bans United States taxpayer funding to foreign organizations that provide abortions. President Biden and his Democrat counterparts will shamefully send Americans' hard-earned money to other countries with the intention of funding abortions--this is deeply wrong and sends a horrible message about our values to the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, it does not end there. President Biden also proudly campaigned on ending the Hyde Amendment, a bipartisan, pro-life public policy that has been in place for more than four decades that restricts federal funding for abortions. If you didn't know, President Biden had previously opposed taxpayer-funded abortion for nearly 50 years, until he decided to run for president and abandon his conviction on the issue. I pray that President Biden will appeal to his better angels and return to a commonsense support of the Hyde Amendment, especially if he truly wants to unite our country. Forcing American taxpayers to subsidize unrestricted, unlimited abortions will only further our divisions and isolate our fellow Americans.
We must reaffirm our commitment to defending the most vulnerable lives among us--the unborn. Pro-life Americans, especially pro-life Kansans, will not rest until innocent human life is protected from the abortion industry. Life will win.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 21(1), Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 21(2)
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up