Guest writer

TOM COTTON: To protect life

Fight against Roe far from over

Today marks the 43rd anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. Like many of you, the cost of that decision still weighs heavily on my mind.

This year's anniversary is particularly somber as it falls just days after the Supreme Court announced it will not consider Arkansas' appeal to uphold the Arkansas Human Heartbeat Protection Act, which had been struck down by the U.S. Court of Appeals.

These decisions, combined with the unsavory rhetoric used by liberal, pro-choice groups, may lead some to believe the fight to protect unborn babies is futile, or that the pro-life movement is fading away. That couldn't be further from reality. Arkansas and America are more pro-choice than ever before, and now more than ever, we must remain committed to preserving the sanctity of life.

This year the pro-life cause became a little more personal for the Cotton family as my wife Anna and I welcomed our first child in April--a baby boy named Gabriel. Both firm supporters of life prior to Gabriel's birth, it's safe to say our commitment became even stronger as we watched Gabriel grow--first in his mother's womb and now over the last nine months.

But it's not just us who have found a renewed commitment to the pro-life cause. A 2015 poll conducted by the University of Arkansas found that the number of Arkansans who support stricter abortion laws has grown nearly 10 percent since 2014. That trend continues on a national level, as a Gallup poll conducted last year found that a majority--55 percent--of Americans want to outlaw all or most abortions. And those numbers grow larger when the question is narrowed to allowing abortions later in a pregnancy.

As a supporter of life I know it's difficult not to be discouraged that the Supreme Court's decision in Roe still stands, but now is not the time to give up. I certainly haven't. As your senator, I continue to work tirelessly to protect the unborn. Last year, I supported the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would have outlawed abortions after 20 weeks of gestation. Medical science increasingly confirms the common experience of parents, as well as the religious and ethical beliefs of the ages: especially by the halfway point of a pregnancy, unborn babies feel pain and they seek life.

In July, I called for an investigation into the practices of Planned Parenthood after videos revealed senior executives discussing the harvesting of organs of unborn babies. There are no words to adequately express the moral shock we feel when confronted by something as horrific. But where words fall short I'm hopeful that we can be united in action. That's why I also supported legislation that would end federal funding for Planned Parenthood entirely, and I will continue to fight to protect Arkansans' tax dollars from supporting an organization that takes part in such egregious practices.

I've also sponsored a bill aimed at protecting babies born during an attempted abortion. Too often, babies are born alive after a failed abortion only to be murdered moments later by the doctor conducting the procedure. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would require doctors to give an appropriate level of care to any infant born during an abortion or face criminal liability. I'm hopeful this legislation will be considered in the Senate this spring.

As an American and a lawmaker, I believe unborn children are entitled to the God-given rights of life and liberty enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and guaranteed in our Constitution.

As a father, my heart aches for all the innocent lives lost before they've even had a chance to develop and for those grappling with the pain of abortion.

Rest assured, I am committed to working together to continue promoting a culture of life in Arkansas and America.

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Tom Cotton is the junior U.S. senator for the state of Arkansas.

Editorial on 01/22/2016

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