The pro-life debate is different from many of the other debates we have in today’s politics. Folks bring different perspectives and experiences to the table when discussing this important issue. It is my personal opinion that all life is sacred, and that now, more than ever, we must work to protect the unborn. This is why I was thrilled to see that our Representative, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, has taken action early in her term to show she is a strong supporter of life.
One of the first pieces of legislation Miller-Meeks supported was the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Act. The Born Alive bill makes sure that infants born after an attempted abortion receive the same protection of law and degree of care as any newborn would. This bill, which has almost 200 supporters in the House, would ensure that mothers and newborns are safe, healthy, and treated with respect, no matter what. All children should be given a chance at life, no matter the circumstance.
In January, Miller-Meeks joined a letter with 199 other House members to their leadership demanding the Hyde Amendment remain in future spending bills. The Hyde Amendment is a legislative provision barring the use of federal funds to pay for abortion except to save the woman’s life, or in the cases of incest or rape. The amendment has appeared in every federal spending bill signed into law since 1976, and a poll in January showed that 58% of voters polled supported the amendment. Unfortunately, the House Appropriations Committee’s new chair has promised that future spending bills will not include the Hyde Amendment, much to the dismay of those who respect the sanctity of life.
The Hyde Amendment and Born Alive bill are two excellent legislative initiatives well known to pro-life advocates, and I am pleased to see our Congresswoman quickly recognized their importance. That said, I was thrilled to see her support a lesser-known piece of legislation, the Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act. This commonsense legislation honors the rights of individuals with Down syndrome by federally banning doctors from knowingly performing an abortion because a baby received a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Every life should be protected because every life has potential. To take a child’s life away because of the number of chromosomes is unconscionable, and I am happy to see Miller-Meeks standing on the right side of this issue.
Protecting the lives of innocent children should be a top priority for politicians in Washington. I am proud to see that our duly elected Congresswoman, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, has taken a stand and chosen to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. If children are truly our future, then it is time we start acting like it.
