Remarks (As Prepared): Ohio Right to Life Breakfast

REMARKS [AS PREPARED]: OHIO RIGHT TO LIFE BREAKFAST

Thank you all so much for coming here to Washington today to stand up for the unborn -- to stand up and say that abortion is wrong and that we have to do all we can to protect the most innocent members of our society. Fran and I have been coming to this breakfast for over two decades now, and it is so good to see so many old friends and to make several new ones.

Of course, it is also great to be here with my friend and fellow fighter for the unborn, Ken Blackwell. For many, many years, he has cared passionately about this issue, and I thank him for all of his efforts.

I am so glad to be with you today! Every day that I walk into the United States Capitol, I am so proud of my 100% pro-life voting record and all of the things we have worked on together to protect the unborn.

You see, I came here to Washington to make a difference and to get things done -- to get results.

I came here to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

I came here to be a voice for the voiceless.

And with your continued prayers and your unwavering commitment to the unborn, I have been able to get so much done and really make some profound, life-saving changes.

First, one of the laws that I wrote that I am most proud of is the Laci and Connor Peterson law. The President signed my bill, which I introduced four separate times, into law almost 2 years ago now. The Laci and Connor Peterson law is about justice. Before it went into effect, there was no federal law that punished criminals for the assault or murder of an unborn child. Even though over half the states had such laws for criminals that committed such heinous acts, the federal government lagged way behind in protecting the innocent.

I did something about it. I took a stand and said that it was just plain wrong -- that it was morally reprehensible. I said that people who violently attack unborn babies should be punished, and that when acts of violence against unborn victims fall within federal jurisdiction, we must have a penalty -- we must have justice.

During my time in the Senate, we also witnessed history, when President George W. Bush signed the ban to end the gruesome practice of partial-birth abortions! I fought for years to get that ban put into place. One of the greatest days in my career of public service was standing there with the President as he signed that ban into law.

Let me also just say a word about how much what you do matters. Your voice and your votes matter. Elections matter. And, what I mean by that is that putting George Bush in office has made a huge difference in so many ways in our pro-life efforts, especially with regard to the confirmation of main-stream judges -- judges who interpret the law and don't try to create it!

Look -- I took a lot of heat for the judicial compromise last spring. But, you know what? It worked. We won!

Since that agreement went into effect, seven of President Bush's previously-blocked nominees are now judges in the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal, including three in the 6th Circuit, which covers Ohio. And of course, we confirmed Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. In the next few days, we also will be confirming Justice Samuel Alito. That is an unprecedented victory. We should all be proud of the results!

Again, it is an honor and privilege to serve as Ohio's 56th United States Senator, and Fran and I thank you all for what you have done and continue to do to preserve the sanctity of human life. Our fight, though, isn't over, and I will continue -- with your help -- to work toward a day when this march is no longer necessary -- a day when all babies are protected.

http://www.dewine.senate.gov/