Chris Smith: “I want to thank Mr. Taylor for his courage and leadership, and especially his compassion, in including this very…”

“I want to thank Mr. Taylor for his courage and leadership, and especially his compassion, in including this very important amendment that will prevent the use of all public funds, taxpayer funds, whether they be Federal or locally-raised, but all of which are under the jurisdiction of the Congress and so under the jurisdiction of the United States Constitution. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for taking the lead in ensuring that the legislation you have brought to the floor will in no way put unborn children at risk. It will save lives. Let me remind Members, when this provision was not in effect, the District of Columbia used to perform, with public funds, taxpayer funds, something on the order of over 3,000 abortions every year. All you have to do is open up the phone book and you see that many of the organizations, like Planned Parenthood and others, are doing abortions right up to the 24th week, 24 weeks! These are precious babies, worthy of respect. Rather than killing children, our debate ought to be how we can best mitigate disease or do microsurgery, to treat that baby as a patient rather than something that is to be destroyed like a tumor or something that is unwanted. Unwantedness makes children objects--throwaways. Let me remind my colleagues, I think it cannot be said enough, abortion is child abuse.”