Protect Babies Born Alive

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for taking on this issue.

When we have heard words such as the Governor of Virginia and others who would say that it is okay for a male Governor of Virginia to make a statement; but generally, men should not be talking about something that is only given to women to talk about because it is about their bodies, about their lives. Well, it is. But I think we need to talk as well.

And if it is not me who should talk, I would like to read for you the statements of another individual who, I think, expresses all I would want to say this evening. And I will read just a few excerpts from an article he wrote.

He said: ``Do you want us to let him go?''

``Those were the first words that were spoken over me as I came into the world. Those were the words of my delivery room doctor as he held my armless and lifeless body in his arms. As he assessed me and my situation, all he could tell my parents is that I was `not viable.'

Those were the words of Daniel Ritchie as he spoke about his birth. He said: ``Not bad for a kid that wasn't supposed to lead a full life.''

And why did he say that? He says: ``It has now been almost 35 years since those words were spoken over me and a lot has happened since then. By God's grace, I was revived. . . . I learned to feed myself, dress myself, write, type, and drive, all with my feet. I graduated from high school with honors and double majored in college. I met the girl of my dreams, got married 13 years ago, and we have two beautiful kids. Now I am a sought after speaker who shares his story at conferences, churches, schools, colleges and with corporations across the country.

Not bad for a kid that wasn't supposed to lead a full life.''

Viability and independence are terrible indicators of life.

``I am no less of a man because of my two vacant sleeves. I am a perfect creation crafted by the hands of a careful Creator. I am not the sum of my missing parts. I am a man that God has made with talents, gifts, and abilities. Just like any person who is born blind, deaf, or paralyzed has the same sort of giftings.''

He ended by saying this: ``We are all made in God's image. We are all given talents and abilities. We are all worth being given a chance at life, no matter how small the chance may be, and I am the living example of that.

``My armless life is worth living, and I am beyond thankful my parents saw that on day one.'' And he was viable.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source