Jan. 22, 2024
This weekend, tens of thousands of Americans marched across our nation’s capital in honor of our first inalienable right: the right to life. Each year, the March for Life is an incredible showing of support for the dignity of every human life.
Despite the end of the Roe v. Wade decision, thousands walked across snowy Washington this weekend because our country still has a long way to go, both culturally and legally, toward recognizing the value of all life. The United States is one of only four countries — including China and North Korea — with state laws that permit abortion up to the day of birth. Only seven countries in the entire world allow abortion after 20 weeks — and sad to say we are one of them.
Most of the world, including almost all of Europe, has laws based on compassion and scientific fact, but our country still turns its back on protecting babies. Restrictions based on science are not only compassionate but also common sense, as recognized by the vast majority of countries around the world. The White House continues to ignore science, but the vast majority of Americans understand the importance of recognizing that science. We must join the caring nations of the world and protect the most vulnerable among us. We should reform our policies to reflect the incredible scientific progress that allows us to see and understand human life in the womb.
Recent studies have found that unborn children feel pain as early as 12 weeks because of the developing function of the nervous system. Babies this young are given pain medication during fetal surgeries. But in our country, babies capable of feeling pain are also still aborted. When a baby is wanted, she is treated as any other human being, and we try to relieve her pain. But when she is unwanted, her humanity is discarded, and she’s allowed to be killed in the womb. Whether a baby is wanted or unwanted makes no difference to her humanity — in either case, we must acknowledge that humanity and protect her right to life.
To support life is to support both science and human rights — so it shouldn’t have to be partisan. When I served in the Nebraska Legislature, my Democrat and Republican colleagues came together to pass a common-sense 20-week abortion ban. This bill was based on studies at the time that showed unborn babies feel pain at 20 weeks. Because of improved medical care, more children born at that early stage of life survive and live healthy lives. Forty-four of us in the Nebraska Legislature in 2010 voted to pass this bill, and only five state senators voted no.
Though abortion law now lies with legislative bodies, with many state legislatures taking the lead, we can still protect life on the federal level. One of the most straightforward changes we can make in Congress is to stop subsidizing abortion giants like Planned Parenthood. Two-thirds of Americans want to limit abortion, so taxpayer money shouldn’t be going to an organization that provides abortion up until the point of birth. A bill I’ve supported, the Protect Funding for Women’s Health Care Act, would redirect federal funding to community health centers instead. In Nebraska, we have several federally qualified community health centers and dozens of clinic sites. I’ve visited many of them over the years, and I’ve seen firsthand the important work they do providing comprehensive care to people in all stages of life.
The pro-life community cares about the safe birth of healthy babies. We care about the wellbeing of women and mothers. And we also care about families’ futures after their children are born.
I championed the first nationwide paid leave policy in U.S. history, which became law in 2017. This policy created a tax credit for employers who voluntarily offer their employees up to 12 weeks of paid family leave after a baby is born. My policy provides more mothers and fathers with the opportunity to support their children full-time for several weeks — without placing any regulations on employers. I’ve also introduced legislation such as the bipartisan Foster Care Stabilization Act that would provide grants for agencies that support children in the foster care system.
Whether pro-life or pro-choice, we should come together to support families and provide care to mothers and their children. From that common ground, we can use good faith and empathy to demonstrate the importance of protecting life. The pro-life cause requires legislative action, but it also requires compassion and understanding.
This Saturday, along with thousands of my fellow Nebraskans, I’ll bring awareness to pro-life issues through the Nebraska Walk for Life. We’ll gather in support of mothers and the value of unborn children, and we will advocate for the legal and cultural changes our country still must make. As long as I serve as your Senator, I’ll continue protecting human life.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.