W. Todd Akin: “Mr. Speaker, today the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the protection of life, and this ruling affirms Congress's role…”

“Mr. Speaker, today the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the protection of life, and this ruling affirms Congress's role in guarding and protecting that special gift of life. As Justice Kennedy stated, Congress determined that the abortion methods it prescribed had a disturbing similarity to the killing of a newborn infant. In the past 30 years or so, our Nation has seen an appalling rise in the disrespect for the dignity of human life. And when a culture of life is not respected, a culture of death rises to fill the void. This culture of death has been eating away at our Nation's character, at America's soul. It seems that day after day we are inundated with new stories of senseless acts of violence and death carried out on innocent victims. It would be easy to try to turn and look away; it would be easy to pretend that that crisis does not exist, but it would not be right. Who is it who will defend the innocent that is led off to slaughter? Who will stand for the right to life in America? I am reminded of William Wilberforce, the recent movie about his life's efforts to end the practice of slavery. The moving movie 'Amazing Grace' demonstrates the value of this cause and the tireless efforts that Wilberforce went through year after year, constant criticism and rejection, until he collected the votes to finally send slavery in the British empire to the dust bin of history. We as Members of Congress could learn from his great example.”