Message to the Congress
Transmitting the Pro-Life Act of 1988
To
the Congress of the
I
am pleased to transmit for your immediate and favorable consideration the
``President's Pro-Life Act of 1988.'' This important legislation carries out my
commitment to protect the rights of unborn children by prohibiting any Federal
dollars from being used to fund abortion unless a mother's life would be
physically endangered by carrying the fetus to term.
Since
the legalization of abortion on demand in 1973, there have been an estimated 21
million abortions in this country. The bill I am sending you has been named the
``President's Pro-Life Act of 1988'' to emphasize the urgent need to reduce the
number of abortions in this country and to reaffirm life's sacred position in
our Nation.
The
findings that would underlie the mandate of the statute point out that abortion
takes the life of a living human being, that there is no right to abortion
secured by the Constitution, and that the Supreme Court erred in its decision
in Roe v. Wade in failing to recognize the humanity of the unborn child.
The
key provision of the bill would enact, on a permanent and government-wide
basis, the anti-abortion provision -- commonly known as the Hyde Amendment --
that is included annually in the appropriation act for the Department of Health
and Human Services. Enacting this prohibition on the funding of abortion in
general legislation will extend its application to all agencies and to all
Federal funds.
None
are more powerless than the unborn. I urge you to pass this measure promptly
and thereby join me in helping to protect their rights to life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness.
Ronald
Reagan
The
White House,