Jim Banks: “I thank the gentleman for his tireless efforts on behalf of the unborn. Mr. Speaker, our Nation was founded on the…”

“I thank the gentleman for his tireless efforts on behalf of the unborn. Mr. Speaker, our Nation was founded on the universal principle that all people have a God-given right to life. ``All'' includes every single human being, regardless of race, gender, or age. Throughout our Nation's history, we have continually fought to draw closer to this ideal. However, there is still so much more work to do. Forty-five years ago, the Supreme Court made a tragic decision in Roe v. Wade, and since then, more than 60 million innocent lives have been lost. Every single one of those lives was important and unique. Tonight, as we reflect on those lives lost as a result of Roe v. Wade, we also celebrate that our culture is increasingly recognizing the value of human life. A recent Marist Poll found that an overwhelming majority of the American people want substantial limits on abortion. Another poll found that 61 percent of Americans opposed using tax dollars to fund abortions within the United States, while 83 percent of respondents opposed subsidizing abortions outside of the United States. Last year, the House took an important step by passing the Pain- Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This bill would prohibit any elective abortion attempt on an unborn child who is 20 weeks or older, the age at which research shows us that children are able to feel pain.…”