Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 Conference Report-Continued

PARTIAL-BIRTH ABORTION BAN ACT OF 2003 CONFERENCE REPORT—CONTINUED

Mr. BUNNING. Madam President, today I come to the floor with joy in my heart knowing we will finally put an end to the death of unborn children through partial-birth abortions. I am joyful that our efforts will not go in vain this year because
President Bush is eager to sign this bill.

But my heart is also heavy knowing that this procedure has gone on too long. Too many children have died in this horrific way. The vast majority of Congress has been trying for the better part of a decade to ban partial-birth abortions but has been stymied by President Clinton and the current minority party in the Senate. I am glad the days of obstruction and vetoes have come to an end and this bill will become law.

I can think of no more clear-cut case between right and wrong. All one needs to know is a description of the process to understand how wrong partial-birth abortions are. First, an abortionist induces dilation of the mother so the baby can be almost fully delivered. Next, the baby is delivered to the point that only its head remains inside the mother. Third, the child is stabbed in the back of the skull with scissors or some other sharp object. Finally, a tube is used to suck the child's brains out of the hole left by the stabbing.

There is no gray area or middle ground when it comes to this procedure and there are no justifications for it. The child is delivered to within inches of breathing its first breath. If the doctor lets the head of the baby slip just an inch or two, the child would be born and the doctor would be prosecuted for murder. Nevertheless, some abortion supporters cannot see through the fog of their fervor to realize just how wrong that is.

I do not mean to suggest that there is widespread support for partial-birth abortions. There is not. The vast majority of the American people want the procedure to end. Congress has voted overwhelmingly many times in the last few years to enact a ban like the one before the Senate today. Most doctors oppose the procedure including quite a few who perform other forms of abortion.

There is no evidence that this procedure is ever necessary to preserve the health of the mother. In fact, it is quite dangerous. Babies being killed in this manner can feel the pain of its skull being pierced and have been seen writhing in pain, flailing tiny arms and legs until its skull collapses after its brains have been vacuumed out. I do not understand how anyone can believe this should go on.

Doctors and medical researchers have made great progress in fetal health care. Babies can be operated on while still in the womb. Premature babies can survive outside their mother at younger and younger ages. With those and other advancements Americans are continually placing a greater value of life. By passing this law Congress will further advance the cause of life and send an unmistakable message that ours is a just society that values every human being and believes in the sanctity of life.

I look forward to President Bush signing this bill into law. I am proud of his support of this bill and for life.