Thank you very much. Good afternoon. I’m pleased that all
of you have joined us as the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 becomes the
law of the land. (Applause.) For years, a terrible form of violence has been
directed against children who are inches from birth, while the law looked the
other way. Today, at last, the American people and our government have
confronted the violence and come to the defense of the innocent child.
(Applause.)
I want to thank you all for coming. Many of you have worked long and hard
to see this bill come to fruition, and we thank you for your efforts.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you, Mr. President. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: I see some members of my Cabinet have come. I appreciate
the good work of the Attorney General, John Ashcroft. (Applause.) Secretary of
the Department of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, is here. Thank
you, Tommy. (Applause.) There are a lot of members of the Senate and House
here today, I want to thank you all for passing this important legislation. I’m
glad you’re here. (Applause.)
The primary Senate sponsor is with us, Senator Rick Santorum. (Applause.)
Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Mike DeWine helped, as well, in the Senate.
Thank you all very much. (Applause.) Steve Chabot was the primary House
sponsor, and Steve is with us. Thanks for coming, Steve. (Applause.) I’m
thankful that our Speaker is with us today. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate you
coming. (Applause.) The Majority Leader, Tom DeLay, as well. Thank you for
coming, Tom. (Applause.)
I’d like to mention three other members of the House. Henry Hyde is with
us today. Mr. Chairman, we appreciate you coming. (Applause.) Jim Oberstar is
with us. Jim, thank you for being here, sir, I appreciate you coming.
(Applause.) Bart Stupak, from Michigan, is with us, as well. Thanks for
coming, Bart, glad you’re here. (Applause.)
I appreciate His Eminence, Cardinal Egan, is with us today. Thank you very
much, sir. (Applause.)
In passing this legislation, members of the House and Senate made a studied
decision based upon compelling evidence. The best case against partial birth
abortion is a simple description of what happens and to whom it happens. It
involves the partial delivery of a live boy or girl, and a sudden, violent end
of that life. Our nation owes its children a different and better welcome.
(Applause.) The bill I am about to sign protecting innocent new life from this
practice reflects the compassion and humanity of America.
In the course of the congressional debate, the facts became clear. Each
year, thousands of partial birth abortions are committed. As Doctor C. Everett
Koop, the pediatrician and former Surgeon General has pointed out, the majority
of partial birth abortions are not required by medical emergency. As Congress
has found, the practice is widely regarded within the medical profession as
unnecessary, not only cruel to the child, but harmful to the mother, and a
violation of medical ethics. (Applause.)
The facts about partial birth abortion are troubling and tragic, and no
lawyer’s brief can make them seem otherwise. (Applause.) By acting to prevent
this practice, the elected branches of our government have affirmed a basic
standard of humanity, the duty of the strong to protect the weak. The wide
agreement amongst men and women on this issue, regardless of political party,
shows that bitterness in political debate can be overcome by compassion and the
power of conscience. And the executive branch will vigorously defend this law
against any who would try to overturn it in the courts. (Applause.)
America stands for liberty, for the pursuit of happiness and for the
unalienable right of life. And the most basic duty of government is to defend
the life of the innocent. Every person, however frail or vulnerable, has a
place and a purpose in this world. Every person has a special dignity. This
right to life cannot be granted or denied by government, because it does not
come from government, it comes from the Creator of life. (Applause.)
In the debate about the rights of the unborn, we are asked to broaden the
circle of our moral concern. We’re asked to live out our calling as Americans.
We’re asked to honor our own standards, announced on the day of our founding in
the Declaration of Independence. We’re asked by our convictions and tradition
and compassion to build a culture of life, and make this a more just and
welcoming society. And today, we welcome vulnerable children into the care and
protection of Americans. (Applause.)
The late Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey once said that: when we look
to the unborn child, the real issue is not when life begins, but when love
begins. (Applause.) This is the generous and merciful spirit of our country at
its best. This spirit is reflected in the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of
2003, which I am now honored to sign into law. God bless. (Applause.)
(The bill is signed.) (Applause.) Thank you, all. (Applause.)