Southern Border

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. RODGERS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for yielding and I appreciate him bringing us together here tonight.

We are all in anticipation of the State of the Union, and for the Republicans in the House, certainly, you have outlined some priorities, we also are a party of life and celebrating life.

Tonight, I wanted to highlight the importance of really honoring the lives of everyone, that every life has value. Our son, Cole McMorris Rodgers, was born with an extra 21st chromosome. Now most of the world knows that as Down syndrome. I can honestly say that seeing the world through Cole's eyes has made me a better mom, but also a better legislator. I am reminded every day whenever I meet with anyone connected to the Down syndrome community as to the full potential that is just waiting to be unleashed.

Unfortunately, in the Biden administration, we have seen them leading on a pretty radical pro-abortion agenda that bolsters a culture which fails to protect the most innocent among us. It does not affirm that every life is worth living, lives like Cole's.

That is why I am leading alongside my Republican colleagues to champion legislation that supports women and children at every stage of their lives. That is what we are committed to. We have led on legislation this Congress like the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act, the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act, and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act.

Just recently, the House passed a bill that I had worked on, the QALYs bill, that would prohibit QALYs within the Federal Government and it would ensure that those with disabilities with chronic diseases have lifesaving cures and access to prevent discrimination against these individuals when it comes to their healthcare.

We still have work to do in our Nation, all across this country to ensure that women feel like an abortion is never their only option and we can do that by making sure that we are providing care, hope, and support for mothers and children at every stage of their lives. Every life is worth living.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time tonight in leading us this week in the Special Order.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source