THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF DOBBS v. JACKSON WOMEN'S HEALTH ORGANIZATION (Executive Calendar)
Congressional Record Vol. 171, No. 110
(Senate - June 26, 2025) PDF
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, this week has given the pro-life
movement quite a bit to celebrate. On Tuesday, we marked the third
anniversary of the landmark decision in Dobbs v. Jackson. And today the
U.S. Supreme Court delivered another life-affirming victory in the
Medina v. Planned Parenthood case out of South Carolina, holding that
States can defund the abortion industry by ensuring that abortion
providers are excluded from the States' Medicaid Program.
This commonsense decision from the Supreme Court reinforces the
important work that pro-life lawmakers are doing at the State and
Federal level to keep tax dollars out of the abortion business. We can
rest easy knowing that pro-life States across America are fiercely
protecting the lives of innocent, preborn children.
But a child's right to exist should not depend on geography, and that
is why my fellow pro-life colleagues join me on the Senate floor today
to commemorate this time when the responsibility of protecting human
life has been returned to the people and their elected leaders at both
the State and Federal level.
Three years ago, the Supreme Court held that:
The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe
and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate
abortion is returned to the people and their elected
representatives.
I am especially proud that my home State of Mississippi was at the
center of this historic decision. The Dobbs landmark decision and all
those involved in making it happen are very close to my heart,
including my friends Representative Becky Currie of Brookhaven, MS, who
authored the bill, and Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who represented our
State so well in the Supreme Court. The High Court gave us exactly what
we asked for.
Two hundred twenty-seven of my pro-life colleagues in Congress joined
me on the brief we filed in Dobbs asserting that "it is long overdue
for this Court to return lawmaking to legislatures . . . we
respectfully urge the Court to affirm the constitutional authority of the
federal and state governments to safeguard the lives and health of their
Citizens, born and not yet born."
While the pro-life movement has long sought to change hearts and
minds through decades of court battles, today we can make a real
difference to ensure our laws reflect the values we hold dear. A
handful of examples of these legislative efforts include supporting
pregnancy resource centers, protecting abortion survivors, and ensuring
U.S. tax dollars are not funneled into the abortion industry.
While the pro-life community has held an outstretched hand to
expecting parents who may be facing tough and scary hurdles--a primary
one being the financial cost of birth--my colleagues and I are
committed to supporting these families.
To that end, the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act is meant to
ease the out-of-pocket costs paid by parents to have a child. If we can
relieve the financial stresses associated with pregnancy and
childbirth, I hope expecting mothers and fathers will feel empowered to
embrace the beautiful gift of parenthood.
As a proud Christian, mother, and committed member of the pro-life
movement, I will continuously fight to uphold and defend the dignity of
every life at every stage.
Dobbs lifted the gate for us to move forward, and there is still much
important work to be done.
I yield the floor.