Issue Position: Abortion

Issue Position

The issue of abortion is of great concern to me because I believe there are certain fundamental questions about the advancement of human life within a pregnancy and the responsibility of protecting that life which need to be addressed. As an active member of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, I am opposed to abortion.

I cosponsored and voted for the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, and was proud to attend the ceremony at the White House when President Bush signed the bill into law. Partial birth abortion is an inhumane and gruesome practice. The law prohibits anyone from knowingly performing a partial birth abortion except when necessary to save the life of a mother who is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury.

I also voted for the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which is better known as Laci and Conner's Law. This bill, also now signed into law, allows for the prosecution of murderers of unborn children.

I have also supported other pro-life legislation including the Child Custody Protection Act, which prohibits the transportation of minors across state lines to circumvent abortion laws, and the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act which protects access to federal funding for health care providers that choose not to provide abortions. I have also consistently supported the Hyde Amendment, because federal funds should not be used to pay for abortions.

Accordingly, I voted against the government health care takeover bill on March 21, 2010 that requires coverage of abortion.

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