Perspective: Dedicated to support pro-life legislation

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

“The care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” — Thomas Jefferson

Last week I had the opportunity to meet with the dedicated parents, teachers, students, and clergy who braved the January winter and made their way to Washington, D.C., to participate in a walk that is especially important to me: the March for Life.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the ruling of Roe v. Wade. Since that fateful decision was issued by the Supreme Court, more than 55 million lives have been lost due to abortion. It serves as a reminder that we, as Americans, must continue to fight for the lives of the unborn.

In recent years, medical science has confirmed what we already knew. We know that in a number of weeks after conception that the unborn child has a detectable heartbeat, brain activity, and sometimes a bloodtype that is different than that of the mother. With this scientific evidence, it is unfathomable that there are still over one million abortions performed every year.

In the House of Representatives, my colleagues and I have successfully passed legislation such as the No Taxpayer for Funding Abortion Act and the Protect Life Act. However, the Senate has refused to act on these bills and we still have a great deal of prolife work to accomplish. Those of you that take the time out of your busy lives to participate in the March for Life and teach important moral values to your children, family, and community truly make a difference and strengthen my conviction that one day we will be successful in our endeavor to protect all forms of human life. I urge all those committed to this mission to not lose faith, for liberty and morality may not be realized without faith.

In the 113th Congress, I will remain dedicated to supporting pro-life legislation. One of the first bills that I cosponsored was the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. This would ensure that Title X family planning grants are used for the intended purpose and are prohibited from being used by organizations that provide abortions.

In order to protect life, we must continue to stand up for our principles, communicate the negative impact abortion has on our communities, morals, and individual hearts, and focus on strengthening and promoting alternatives to abortion such as adoption. Each life is invaluable and should be given the opportunity to pursue dreams. I will not lose faith as we work together to protect the gift of life and the greatness humans can achieve, if only given the chance.

U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer is a Republican who represents Missouri’s 3rd District. His local office can be reached at (573) 635-7232.

Web link:

luetkemeyer.house.gov

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Paroquet 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Hon Rep. Luetkemeyer,

You are not seriously "Pro-Life" unless you have opened your home to foster children, or are actively on an adoption for children regardless of race, age, or disability. You're simply "Anti-Abortion", or "Anti-Choice". Furthermore, going so far as to intrude upon the decision a single woman makes concerning her own body, that is as broad and intrusive as government can get, which eliminates you from being a true "Conservative". You are simply attempting to place the moral obligations of your own choosing upon another by denying them a choice that is none of your business.

Sincerely Yours, A 3rd District voter

connor 3 months, 2 weeks ago

I applaud the efforts of Congressman Luetkemeyer and the pro-life citizens that made this march. All the pitiful arguments aside it is telling that some feel it is their body so that is that, but everyone else's money is certainly on the table. The pro-abortion crowd should just adopt "My body but you're paying for it, whether you think it is murder or not" as their slogan.

Now that is the height of intrusive government with a "Liberal" (pun intended) dash of gender bias thrown in on top.

What a woman does with her body is not my concern, that is between her and God. What I allow to be done with my money in facilitating such actions makes it between me and God as well.

If you want abortions pay for em yourselves the government has no business nor right funding genocide with tax payer money.

Paroquet 3 months, 2 weeks ago

I'm fine with no revenue going to pay for abortions, which is the current state of affairs. What Blaine is trying to accomplish is effectively holding a gun to the heads of women's health clinics to cut funding for everything else if they also provide abortions funded from other revenue streams. So, in his own way, he's kind of attempting to promote a higher percentage of families meeting the requisites for state assistance, you know, a larger population of those among the "welfare state" that you -will- pay for.

MoJoanne 3 months, 2 weeks ago

According to Planned Parenthood's latest annual report, they took in half a billion of taxpayers' money in 2011. That is over a million dollars a day. That is money the US borrows from China and has to pay back with interest. Planned Parenthood also reported the highest number of abortions performed, 333,948 in 2011.

Every year the government gives Planned Parenthood more and more money. Some of it is Title X money and some is Medicaid reimbursements. What do they have to show for it? More and more abortions. Both tax funding and abortions have been an on an upward trajectory for decades. Even though the federal government does not directly fund abortions (some states do) unless one of three exemptions are met, our tax dollars prop them up.

Obviously, their "pregnancy prevention" efforts do not work. In additon, they have also been found guilty of Medicaid fraud in the past, and there are current suits pending. Plus, they also have like 58 million dollars in the bank. At the same time, the number of cancer screenings and other care decreased. So, it is beyond me why we keep funding them.

connor 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Mojoanne - I am in awe. You know your numbers, the real truth behind the planned parenthood scam and shut down that tired old adoption strawman topic paroqette has been throwing out ad nauseum.

Keep up the good work!!!

MoJoanne 3 months, 2 weeks ago

Since the humanity of pre-born children is not in dispute, abortion supporters engage in ad hominem attacks against pro-lifers. Apparently, we are not pro-life enough unless we are also foster and/or adoptive parents. Frankly, I wish more people would step up and be foster/adoptive parents, but let's look at the facts. There are long waiting lists of people wanting to adopt young children, which forced some families to pursue international adoptions. Two million couples are waiting to adopt; there are about 25-30 couples for every available baby. Pro-lifers do foster and/or adopt children and would gladly take any child an abortion minded mother would place with them.

The deliberate and direct killing of another human being, an innocent member of our society, is our business. The taking of another life especially by the brutal means of tearing his/her body apart and/or poisoning to death and protecting women from unscrupulous abortionists like Kermit Gosnell warrants government intrusion. Protecting human life is a moral obligation we all share.

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