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McConnell: Pass the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

‘Look in your hearts and help us stand up for the most innocent life, help us protect the beating heart in that sonogram.’

September 22, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act:

“Ask a family to show you the first picture of their child these days, and you’re likely to get a black-and-white image with delicate fingers and tiny toes.

“Maybe it’s their precious Christine. Maybe it’s their little guy Brett. But one thing’s for sure: that baby is their child.

“Scientific advances like the sonogram are helping pull back the curtain on the mystery of life. They’re helping foster a new spirit of compassionate protection for the most defenseless. And they’re providing new opportunities to bridge old political divides.

“We in this chamber are never going to agree completely on the abortion question. But we should at least be able to agree that if an unborn child has reached the point where he or she can feel pain, that child's life deserves protection.

“Science is telling us that a child can reach this stage around 20 weeks — in other words, 5 months — of development.

“This is when unborn children can react, even recoil, to stimuli an adult would recognize as painful.

“This is when doctors even administer fetal anesthesia during surgery.

“And as a New England Journal of Medicine study recently demonstrated, babies delivered at this age can survive outside the womb.

“So even if we differ on the larger abortion issue, can’t we at least agree that children at this late stage of development deserve our protection?

“The American people seem to think so. Polls show that Americans — American women and American men — oppose abortions after 5 months. The fact is that we are now one of just seven nations, like North Korea and China, that allow elective abortions at such a late stage.

“Can’t we do better as a country?

“The Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would allow America to finally join the ranks of most civilized nations on this issue.

“Just this past weekend in Louisville, hundreds of Kentuckians gathered to spread a message of dignity and hope.

“They marched for those who may not meet them.

“They marched for those who may not hear them.

“But I hope Americans across the country – including participants in the 37th annual Walk for Life — will be encouraged to know that voices of humanity and respect are finally being heard again in a Senate under new leadership.

“The executive director of Kentucky Right to Life says that the issue before us is ‘critical.’

“‘We have worked tirelessly,’ she said, ‘to give these defenseless babies some protection.’
Several states have already taken action to protect these children.

“So has the House of Representatives.

“Now, it’s up to each of us to show where we stand.

“We’re seeing how science is changing this debate.

“So what I’m asking every colleague is this:

“Look in your hearts and help us stand up for the most innocent life, help us protect the beating heart in that sonogram.”

McConnell Urges Support for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

‘It’s legislation that would allow America to join the ranks of most civilized nations when it comes to protecting the most innocent and vulnerable of life.’

September 21, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor previewing the week ahead:

“I know many Americans are looking ahead to the visit of Pope Francis this week with great interest. Thousands will gather on the Capitol grounds for the chance to hear him speak. I think I can speak for every colleague when I say the Senate welcomes him warmly. We look forward to his visit.

“So it’s obviously going to be a busy week here in the Senate. That’s true of the legislative issues before us as well.

***

“One is government funding.

“Earlier this year, a new majority took office with a different outlook on government funding from the previous majority.

“We thought it made sense to actually pass a budget and then fund it.

“So we passed a budget, for the first time in 6 years.

“Then we passed all 12 appropriations bills through committee, for the first time in 6 years.

“Democratic colleagues voted for and praised appropriations bills in committee. Had we passed the 12 appropriations bills on the floor, it would have funded the government without the dramas of the past.

“But Democrats then changed their mind and decided to pursue a regrettable ‘Filibuster Summer’ strategy of blocking all government funding for months. Some blocked bills they had just praised, all with the aim of pushing Washington into another one of the manufactured crises they just can’t seem to shake.

“It’s truly unfortunate. But they’ve succeeded in making this the reality we now face, so we have to push forward — and we will.

“I’ll have more to say on the issue as the week progresses.

“Discussions on the best way forward are ongoing.

“Discussions about the character of our country continue as well.

***

“That’s why, tomorrow, we’ll take up a bill the House of Representatives has already passed. It’s legislation that would allow America to join the ranks of most civilized nations when it comes to protecting the most innocent and vulnerable of life.

“We, along with countries like North Korea, are one of just 7 nations to allow late-term elective abortions after 20 weeks — in other words, 5 months — when science and medical research tells us that unborn children can feel pain.

“As the father of three daughters, I find that both tragic and heartbreaking.

“Many Americans feel the same way.

“Polls show that both men and women support protections for innocent life at 5 months.

“I’m asking colleagues to open their hearts and work with us to help defend the defenseless. Help us pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

“I’ll have more to say about this important bill before we take a vote on it tomorrow.”

McConnell Sponsors Bill to Help Protect Correctional Officers and Staff at Kentucky Prisons

September 21, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell cosponsored legislation to help protect correctional officers and staff at Federal Bureau of Prison (BOP) facilities. Kentucky has five federal correctional facilities -- in Manchester, Pine Knot, Ashland, Inez, and Lexington -- that employ almost 2,000 Kentuckians. The legislation was introduced by Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA).

The Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act, named in honor of a fallen federal correctional officer killed at the U.S. Penitentiary Canaan in Pennsylvania in 2013, is designed to allow officers who respond to emergency situations inside a federal prison to carry and use pepper spray to help reduce violent acts inside prisons. After Officer Williams’ line-of-duty death, BOP expanded an existing pepper spray pilot program started in 2012 to test the use of pepper spray at additional facilities. This bill would make the pilot project permanent for medium and high security prisons. Many state prison systems, including Kentucky’s, have long allowed correctional officers the ability to carry pepper spray for officer safety.

“This issue is critically important to the thousands of Kentuckians who work at federal prisons across the Commonwealth,” Senator McConnell said. “These federal corrections officers should have tools such as pepper spray which will allow them to protect and safely defend themselves at work, and I proudly cosponsored this bill on their behalf.”

Don Peace, President of Local 614, which represents the staff at the U.S. Penitentiary McCreary in Pine Knot, said, “Once again Senator McConnell is showing his unwavering support of Federal Law Enforcement Officers. By cosponsoring this bill it is clear Senator McConnell is very concerned with the safety of the women and men who put their lives on the line everyday keeping America safe. The passage of this bill would give these staff members the safety equipment they need to keep them safe in the very dangerous environments of America's prisons.”

The legislation Senator McConnell supported builds on his work on behalf of Kentucky’s corrections officers. Earlier this year, Senator McConnell introduced the Federal Prisons Accountability Act, which would require that the Director of the BOP be subject to Senate advice and consent in the hopes of bringing more accountability to the BOP and more responsiveness to Congressional oversight. Under current law, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons is not subject to Senate confirmation.

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