Byron Dorgan: “I supported passage of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act when it was considered during the 104th Congress and I…”

“I supported passage of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act when it was considered during the 104th Congress and I supported overriding the President's veto of that measure. Today, I again voted in favor of this legislation. My position on abortion issues is clear. I have consistently stated that I would not support overturning the Supreme Court's decision in Roe versus Wade. I support a women's right to have an abortion. I do not think we should turn back the clock and make abortion illegal, but we should work in every way to reduce the number of abortions that are performed. I have also cast votes in Congress in opposition to using Federal funds to pay for abortions except in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest. Today, the Senate again voted on legislation which would prohibit a physician from performing partial-birth abortions, a procedure in which a fetus is delivered into the birth canal before its skull is collapsed and delivery is completed. This legislation contains a provision which would make an exception for partial-birth abortions that are necessary to save the life of the mother in cases in which no other medical procedure would suffice. After careful thought about this issue, I have concluded that I simply cannot justify the use of this specific procedure to terminate pregnancies in which the mother's life is not at stake.”