For Immediate Release: June 22, 2023
Contact: [email protected]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser and House Republican Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21) gave remarks Tuesday morning commemorating the first anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.
Stefanik addressed the nation on the historic magnitude of this human rights moment in our country and the sweeping successes of pro-life protections in half the country, casting a vision for how the GOP can protect lives and support mothers in the years to come. The following are excerpts of her remarks and Q&A (full speech and transcript available here):
“As our Founders brilliantly proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence, each of us is endowed with the right to life by our Creator. Without this right, no other right has any meaning, and because of that, this debate today is a primary question of public policy for state, local, and yes, federal policymakers.
“It was Roe v. Wade, sweeping away the protective laws of all 50 states – laws both liberal and conservative, each of them enacted by the people’s elected representatives – that deviated from a course that had been progressing, legally and medically, toward enhancement of the rights of the unborn.”
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“Almost two years ago, my husband Matt and I were blessed with our beautiful baby boy, Sam. And as every parent will tell you, our world changed forever and we simply cannot imagine life without him.
“It is as Sam’s mom and the newest mom in Congress that I know that there is nothing more extraordinary than the miracle of life.
“Hearing Sam’s heartbeat, feeling his first flutters and kicks, and awaiting his healthy cry after delivery are etched in my heart forever.
“This year’s anniversary of Dobbs is a moment to embrace how far we have come in this movement to protect the sanctity of life. It is also an historic opportunity to continue to strengthen the culture of life in America as we look to the future.”
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“At six weeks, a baby’s heart beat approximately 98 beats per minute. By week 10, a baby has arms, fingers and toes, and can sigh and stretch. At 12 weeks, a baby’s brain is creating 250,000 neurons a minute, developing pathways and connections that survive well into adulthood. At 15 weeks, we know an unborn child feels and responds to pain. And, at as little as 22 weeks, science tells us that a child can survive outside the womb.”
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“The Democrat Party of today has really run [pro-life] voices out of their caucus. If you look at some of the primary challenges that have happened even since I’ve been in Congress of how radical today’s Democrat Party is. But I will tell you, what is so important to me is: look to the voters. Look to the American people. It’s not just registered Republicans – and I went through some of this polling. It’s Independents as well as registered Democrats who support our consensus position, which is protecting life. They do not support the radical positions of Joe Biden and his administration and today’s Democrat Party in the House. So I believe that that is a huge opportunity for us to continue to build this consensus as we work towards strong pro-life legislation.”
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“I believe that at the federal level we do have a role to play in this – ensuring that no taxpayer dollars go towards funding abortions, and also having a minimum 15-week bill with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother. That’s legislation that I support. And then states are able to continue to sign into law strong pro-life legislation. But what’s important is that at both the federal and state level, those are elected officials making decisions who are elected by the American people, rather than radical judges who frankly took the voice away from the American people when they took that away from legislators. We rightly have that back and it’s our responsibility.”
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is a network of more than one million pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.
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