Andrea Seastrand: “today this body of Representatives decides one of the most profound moral debates in the history of our Nation. Our…”

“today this body of Representatives decides one of the most profound moral debates in the history of our Nation. Our children will look upon this day to see if we stood for principle. Will we vote to defend and protect the women and future children of this Nation? Will we vote for principle over political party? Will we defend our children or the President's veto? Almost as shameless as the President's veto were his efforts to paint himself as the defender of the health of women. According to Mr. Clinton, the life and health of women depend on the employment of this brutal procedure. No less an authority than former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has made it clear that a partial birth abortion is never necessary under any circumstance. I commend Democrat leaders, the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Gephardt] and the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Bonior], for their vote to ban partial birth abortions. And just as these two leaders stood up to their President, I hope all will follow their consciences and vote to override the President's veto.”