Unanimous Consent Request--S. 205

Floor Speech

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Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I want to thank Senator Lankford for organizing this time today because tomorrow, June 24, marks a pivotal anniversary in our Nation's history. In fact, it was 4 years ago that the Supreme Court ruled that there is no Federal constitutional right to abortion and overturned Roe v. Wade in a landmark 6-3 decision that altered the landscape of the pro-life movement forever.

Reflect for a moment on how things would be different today if the Court had decided otherwise. If the Court decided there was a national right to abortion, society's culture of death would be more prevalent; States would be prevented from enacting pro-life laws, and as a result, millions of unborn children would have been killed and countless more women would have experienced the trauma of losing their child.

I remember back in 2018 when I founded the U.S. Senate Pro-Life Caucus. I had no idea how important our work would become. I had no idea that we would get the opportunity to confirm pro-life Justices to the Supreme Court, including Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who became part of the majority on the Supreme Court to overturn Roe.

The pro-life movement was given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help promote a culture of life. And thanks to an incredible nationwide movement of grassroots activists, countless hearts and countless minds have been changed.

We cannot understate the importance of that day 4 years ago.

I remember I was struck by a profound truth that is found in the Book of Jeremiah 1:5. It says:

Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I set you apart.

That is why there is dignity and value in every single life, including the unborn, the disabled, and the aging. Unfortunately, these beliefs are under attack by pro-abortion advocates who use a disability diagnosis to justify abortion.

Between 60 to 80 percent of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted in America. In fact, it is even higher in other countries. Nearly 100 percent in Denmark and Iceland.

Let that sink in for a moment.

Why would we ever think that is OK? To use a prenatal diagnosis as a case for abortion is discrimination at best and eugenics at worst. It also spurs the belief that having Down syndrome makes your life less valuable or not worth living.

Individuals with Down syndrome make meaningful contributions to society and are loved by their families and friends. It is ironic that we celebrate Special Olympics here in the Washington. And yet we promote a prenatal diagnosis as a case to abort those athletes when they are in the womb.

That is why I introduced the Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act, which will ban doctors from performing abortions because the child received a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis.

Our Constitution says that all individuals are endowed by our Creator--that is with capital C--with the unalienable right to life.

There is no clause that I can find that says ``except for individuals with Down syndrome.'' There is no clause that says ``except for anyone with a disability.'' It is very clear: Every person has a right to life. It is our duty to protect that life and be a voice for the voiceless.

So I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill and for all the other pro-life legislation that my colleagues are speaking on today and tomorrow. I am confident that one day, by the grace and the hand of God, abortion will be unthinkable, and every preborn child will be protected by the law.

So this week as we celebrate this anniversary of the historic Dobbs decision, let's reflect with grateful hearts on the progress we have made, and let's look forward with hope to a future where every life, born and unborn, is valued.

205 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; further, that the bill be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

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