Ann Marie Buerkle: “Thank you to the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding us time and for his unwavering support of life. Mr. Speaker…”

“Thank you to the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding us time and for his unwavering support of life. Mr. Speaker, this coming Saturday marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a decision that fundamentally altered the moral landscape of America. For much of those 38 years, I have been very involved in the pro-life movement, both as an advocate for the unborn and a counselor of troubled women and teens, the unspoken second victims of abortion. As we reflect upon the sobering anniversary and the tremendous loss of life that it represents, I see reasons for hope. Attitudes are changing, and more and more young people are rejecting abortion as a choice for their lives. Technology has opened remarkable windows to the womb. So much of the early pro-life movement emerged from a frustration of the time. No one seemed to be listening, and we tried to get people to care. Now technology, such as the 4D ultrasound imaging, has aided us in our quest to preserve life, showing women that their unborn is not a clump of cells, but a child that they can see rubbing her eyes or sucking his thumb. As we continue to fight for the unborn, we must not cede the ground we have won. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act circumvents the Hyde amendment by allowing government subsidies in Medicaid, Federal Employee Health Benefits Programs and international aid to be used to cover abortions.”