Regarding National Media Coverage of Philadelphia Murder Trial

Floor Speech

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Mr. STUTZMAN. I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding, and I appreciate his efforts to bring this particular matter to the attention of the American people.

I also want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris), who just spoke so eloquently and factually and knowledgeably about this particular issue as a doctor.

My heart is torn, as I stand here on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as we're discussing a matter that's happened right here in our own country. I tell the gentleman from New Jersey that I was just meeting with a doctor in my office within the last couple of hours who worked in one of the neonatal clinics in northeastern Indiana. The work and the technology, the ability and the effort that doctors in a neonatal facility go through to save the life of a baby that is wanted is amazing and is heart-touching. And to then come to this particular matter and to hear the details of this tragic location in Philadelphia that was performing abortions like this is just heart-wrenching.

Mr. Speaker, I would just share with this body that certain places are permanent reminders that evil men will do evil things, whether it's in Auschwitz's ovens, Cambodia's killing fields, and now a run-down brick building on the corner of 38th and Lancaster in west Philadelphia.

In that building--crawling with animals, reeking with urine, and filled with blood-stained furniture--Kermit Gosnell was running a slaughterhouse. On a regular basis, he used a pair of scissors to sever the spinal cords of helpless babies who were born alive during illegal, late-term abortions.

The loss of these lives should scar the conscience of civilized people everywhere. This is not a discussion about abstract concepts like choice. We are talking about brutal deaths of newborn children.

Mr. Speaker, Kermit Gosnell is a predator who must be publicly exposed and openly denounced. That's why I come to the floor, to bring attention to this case, that the American people are informed of it, aware of it, and realizing the acts that are happening within our own country.

I have no doubt that in this life or the next he will be held accountable for his crimes. However, right here and right now we ought to take a serious look at our culture's careless disregard of this story in particular, and innocent life in general.

How is it that in our age of constant news not a single major news outlet has devoted serious attention to the atrocities that weren't committed halfway around the world but in west Philadelphia, Pennsylvania?

Has our national conscience been irreversibly seared by the deaths of more than 1.2 million unborn children every year in this country. I believe this is something that the media should be talking about. They talk about so many other issues that affect our country, and rightly so. But I believe this is one of those that should be discussed and reported on by the media.

I've only seen a brief report on this within the last week. Mr. Speaker, I am confident that one day the era of abortion on demand will close and we will restore a lasting respect for life. However, until that day comes, each of us must take up the cause of those who cannot speak for themselves.

I thank Congressman Smith for his unwavering commitment and his leadership and his efforts to protect life, and especially to bring this particular matter to the attention of the American people, so that we as a country will stand up and do the right thing for those who cannot speak for themselves.

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