President Bush Signs Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
The Ronald Reagan Building
Washington, D.C.
1:40 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. Good afternoon. I'm pleased
that all of you have joined us as the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of
2003 becomes the law of the land. (Applause.) For years, a terrible
form of violence has been directed against children who are inches from
birth, while the law looked the other way. Today, at last, the
American people and our government have confronted the violence and
come to the defense of the innocent child. (Applause.)
I want to thank you all for coming. Many of you have worked long
and hard to see this bill come to fruition, and we thank you for your
efforts.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Thank you, Mr. President. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: I see some members of my Cabinet have come. I
appreciate the good work of the Attorney General, John Ashcroft.
(Applause.) Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services,
Tommy Thompson, is here. Thank you, Tommy. (Applause.) There are a
lot of members of the Senate and House here today, I want to thank you
all for passing this important legislation. I'm glad you're here.
(Applause.)
The primary Senate sponsor is with us, Senator Rick Santorum.
(Applause.) Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Mike DeWine helped, as
well, in the Senate. Thank you all very much. (Applause.) Steve
Chabot was the primary House sponsor, and Steve is with us. Thanks for
coming, Steve. (Applause.) I'm thankful that our Speaker is with us
today. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate you coming. (Applause.) The
Majority Leader, Tom DeLay, as well. Thank you for coming, Tom.
(Applause.)
I'd like to mention three other members of the House. Henry Hyde
is with us today. Mr. Chairman, we appreciate you coming.
(Applause.) Jim Oberstar is with us. Jim, thank you for being here,
sir, I appreciate you coming. (Applause.) Bart Stupak, from Michigan,
is with us, as well. Thanks for coming, Bart, glad you're here.
(Applause.)
I appreciate His Eminence, Cardinal Egan, is with us today. Thank
you very much, sir. (Applause.)
In passing this legislation, members of the House and Senate made a
studied decision based upon compelling evidence. The best case against
partial birth abortion is a simple description of what happens and to
whom it happens. It involves the partial delivery of a live boy or
girl, and a sudden, violent end of that life. Our nation owes its
children a different and better welcome. (Applause.) The bill I am
about to sign protecting innocent new life from this practice reflects
the compassion and humanity of America.
In the course of the congressional debate, the facts became clear.
Each year, thousands of partial birth abortions are committed. As
Doctor C. Everett Koop, the pediatrician and former Surgeon General has
pointed out, the majority of partial birth abortions are not required
by medical emergency. As Congress has found, the practice is widely
regarded within the medical profession as unnecessary, not only cruel
to the child, but harmful to the mother, and a violation of medical
ethics. (Applause.)
The facts about partial birth abortion are troubling and tragic,
and no lawyer's brief can make them seem otherwise. (Applause.) By
acting to prevent this practice, the elected branches of our government
have affirmed a basic standard of humanity, the duty of the strong to
protect the weak. The wide agreement amongst men and women on this
issue, regardless of political party, shows that bitterness in
political debate can be overcome by compassion and the power of
conscience. And the executive branch will vigorously defend this law
against any who would try to overturn it in the courts. (Applause.)
America stands for liberty, for the pursuit of happiness and for
the unalienable right of life. And the most basic duty of government
is to defend the life of the innocent. Every person, however frail or
vulnerable, has a place and a purpose in this world. Every person has
a special dignity. This right to life cannot be granted or denied by
government, because it does not come from government, it comes from the
Creator of life. (Applause.)
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. And today, we welcome vulnerable children into the
care and protection of Americans. (Applause.)
The late Pennsylvania Governor Robert Casey once said that: when
we look to the unborn child, the real issue is not when life begins,
but when love begins. (Applause.) This is the generous and merciful
spirit of our country at its best. This spirit is reflected in the
Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, which I am now honored to sign
into law. God bless. (Applause.)
(The bill is signed.) (Applause.) Thank you, all. (Applause.)