Today marks the first anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Supreme Court’s historic decision that restored the power to protect the unborn to elected representatives. This anniversary 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.
Protecting life is a most worthy cause. Sadly, there are many members of the Far Left who have tried to villainize pro-life efforts, turning a blind eye to the vicious political attacks following the unprecedented information leak of the Supreme Court decision.
Extremists illegally picketed the homes of the justices, plotted to assassinate Justice Kavanaugh, firebombed scores of pregnancy help centers, and vandalized churches that provide support to women, babies, and families. Then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer made these incidents worse by slow-walking security protections for justices and refusing to denounce such heinous attacks. Pro-life advocates were beaten by radicals in the streets, illegally targeted by President Biden’s FBI, and arrested in their homes with their children present for peacefully protesting and standing for life.
We saw the loyal stenographers for the Far Left in the mainstream media promote division and discord, even defending and making excuses for the criminal actions of pro-abortion activists.
If you listen to the radical Far Left, common sense state laws are new and extreme, the invention of religious extremists, opponents of women’s rights, and antagonists of modern health care.
The exact opposite is true. There are now 25 states with life-saving laws on the books. Common sense policies like parental consent laws, limits on late-term abortion, and informed consent provisions that were previously tossed aside by radical activist judges are now protected and enshrined. These efforts have protected the lives of an estimated 181,000 children.
Pro-life advocates are not extremists, we are not anti-women, and terminating the life of an unborn child is not healthcare. Notably, the majority of Americans agree with us.
A Harvard-Harris national poll found 72 percent of voters support limiting abortions at 15 weeks, including 75 percent of women, 70 percent of Independents and 60 percent of Democrats. The vast majority of Americans oppose late-term abortion. 60% of Americans oppose using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. Ninety-one percent of Americans support pregnancy centers and the vital material, medical and educational support to mothers they offer both during their pregnancy and after their baby is born. Fifty-eight percent of Americans say that healthcare professionals should not be required to perform abortions if they have moral objections.
Pro-abortion advocates ignore this consensus and want to go further putting forward the most radical abortion-on-demand policies paid for by the taxpayers, up until and after birth.
House Republicans won’t let that happen.
Under this House Republican majority, we proudly passed the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, providing health care for babies who survive abortion procedures. Yet, 210 House Democrats alarmingly voted against this. When we passed a resolution in support of crisis pregnancy centers and condemning political attacks and vandalism on pregnancy centers and churches, 209 House Democrats voted no.
The reality is that it is Republicans and the pro-life movement who represent the consensus and it is the Democrats who are the radicals, out-of-touch with the majority of the American people.
As our Founders brilliantly proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence, we are endowed by our Creator to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. First and foremost is life, cementing that our nation was built on the unalienable right to life and entrusted to our governments to protect it. Without this right, no other has any meaning and because of that, this debate today is a primary question of public policy for state, local, and, yes, federal policymakers.
Elise M. Stefanik (R-NY-21) is Chair of the House Republican Conference, the youngest woman to hold a top leadership position in the House of Representatives in either party, and the newest mom in Congres
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