Democrats Back Extreme Abortion Policies With Just 19% Public Support

Statement

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding Democrats' abortion extremism:

"Today, on the Senate floor, Democrats will prove their party has been totally captured by the far-left fringe.

"My colleague the Democratic Leader controls the schedule. He decides what we vote on. From inflation to the border crisis to violent crime, there's no shortage of problems that deserve attention. But today, Democrats have decided to line up behind an extreme and radical abortion policy.

"Our Democratic colleagues want to vote for abortion on demand through all nine months, until the moment before a baby is born. A failed show vote that will only prove their own extremism.

"Democrats' radical bill is as extreme as extreme gets. It ignores modern science. It is tone-deaf to public opinion.

"Nothing about their bill merely codifies the current case law on this issue. Their extreme proposal goes way, way beyond codifying the status quo. It would roll back many existing laws.

"Democrats' bill would functionally allow elective abortion through all nine months. Abortion until the moment of birth.

"We are currently one of only seven countries worldwide that allow elective abortion after 20 weeks. We're there alongside China and North Korea. This bill would take us to an even more extreme and darker place.

"Only 19% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases into the third trimester. But 97% of House and Senate Democrats have cosponsored this bill that would have exactly that effect.

"97% of Washington Democrats stand with the most radical 19% of the country. Almost half the Senate is about to walk the plank for a position that fewer than 1 in 5 Americans support.

"In addition to nine months of functional abortion on demand, the Democrats' extreme bill would roll back basic health and safety regulations. It would roll back overwhelmingly popular safeguards such as waiting periods and informed consent laws. Parental notification would likely go out the window as well. Democrats would even rule out restrictions on sex-selective abortions.

"And their legislation takes direct aim at conscience protections and religious freedoms that protect Americans of faith who practice medicine.

"Sum it up this way: This legislation would allow abortions of viable babies, in the ninth month, with no waiting period or informed consent, at the hands of a non-physician, taxpayers could be forced to pay for it, and Catholic hospitals could be forced to perform it.

"Democrats could not have written more extreme legislation. They have let fringe activists lead them far away from the American people.

"More than 60% of Americans support 24-hour waiting periods and requiring that doctors have admitting privileges. Even majorities of self-identified Democrats support these things. But Washington Democrats want to roll them back.

"Only 19% of Americans want abortions to be entirely or mostly legal into the third trimester. But 97% of Washington Democrats back this bill.

"Democrats are melting down because the Supreme Court may uphold a Mississippi law that would limit abortion after 15 weeks. That law would still be more liberal than the abortion laws in Switzerland, Germany, or France. Today's Democratic Party is extreme on an international scale.

"Madam President, it is chilling that anybody would write legislation like this in 2022. It's even more disturbing that 97% of Washington Democrats have put their names on it.

"But the American people need to see what the far left has become. So I'm glad the Senate will vote today.

"We will stand with the American people, stand with innocent life, and block Democrats' extreme bill."

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