Promoting A Culture of Life

"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."

- President George W. Bush, November 5, 2003

The Accomplishments

Building a Culture of Life

President Bush signed legislation to end partial birth abortion - a procedure the late Democratic Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan described as "as close to infanticide as anything I have come upon."
The President signed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, which ensures that every infant born alive, including an infant who survives an abortion procedure, is considered a person under Federal law.
The President signed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which provides that under Federal law, any person who causes death or injury to a child in the womb shall be charged with a separate offense, in addition to any charges relating to the mother.
President Bush restored the Mexico City Policy, which states that taxpayer funds should not be provided to organizations that pay for abortions or advocate or actively promote abortion, either in the United States or abroad.
President Bush's 2005 budget includes $10 million to support maternity group homes for women in crisis.
In August 2001, the President announced his decision to allow medical research using embryonic stem cells while still respecting and upholding the value and sanctity of human life. This policy permits, for the first time, Federal funding of research using existing stem cell lines while not sanctioning or encouraging the destruction of additional live human embryos.
The President created the President's Council on Bioethics to study the human and moral ramifications of developments in biomedical and behavioral science and technology.
President Bush has called on the Congress to pass a law banning all human cloning.
States now have the option to provide vital health care services to promote healthy pregnancies for women and their unborn children who would otherwise be ineligible for coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). States are also able to provide eligibility to unborn children of low-income immigrants, which results in access to important prenatal care.