[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 705 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 705
Congratulating the pro-life movement on its historic victory in Dobbs
v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 13, 2022
Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Mr. Lee, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Risch, Mr.
Crapo, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Braun, Mr. Wicker, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Young, Mr.
Rubio, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Thune, Mr. Cramer, Mrs.
Hyde-Smith, and Mr. Marshall) submitted the following resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Congratulating the pro-life movement on its historic victory in Dobbs
v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
Whereas the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States (referred to in
this preamble as the ``Supreme Court'') in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113
(1973), was a blatant act of judicial activism that invented a
constitutional right to abortion out of whole cloth, with no grounding
in the text of the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas more than 63,000,000 babies have been aborted in the United States since
the decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade;
Whereas the decision in Roe v. Wade caused great damage to the democratic system
of the United States by preventing citizens of the United States from
making decisions about the legality of abortion and instead putting
these decisions in the hands of unelected Federal judges;
Whereas, far from settling the issue of abortion in the United States, the
decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade has exacerbated social
tensions, inflamed the politics of the United States, disrupted the
democratic processes of the United States, and divided the people of the
United States;
Whereas, in the aftermath of the decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade,
millions of volunteers, nonpartisan organizations, and lawmakers came
together with a shared voice to stand up for the rights of the unborn,
who are the most vulnerable among us;
Whereas these supporters of the pro-life movement come from diverse backgrounds,
with the shared goal of building a society that celebrates, protects,
and cherishes life at all stages;
Whereas the pro-life movement has worked tirelessly over the last 5 decades to
reverse the legally unsound and destructive ruling in Roe v. Wade and to
ensure that the human dignity of every person is protected by law,
regardless of age, background, or belief;
Whereas the work of the pro-life movement has been more than simply advocating
for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and often occurs behind
the scenes, with little recognition of the time and talent that
countless individuals have invested in the effort to protect life;
Whereas millions of people in the United States have contributed to the
cultivation of a culture of life in the United States by marching for
life on the streets of cities in the United States, engaging in sidewalk
counseling outside abortion clinics, providing resources for expectant
mothers, raising money and volunteering their time for crisis pregnancy
centers, adopting and fostering children, advocating for life-affirming
legislation in every State, and submitting amicus briefs in abortion-
related cases at the State and Federal level;
Whereas, on June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v.
Jackson Women's Health Organization, No. 19-1392, 2022 WL 2276808
(2022), which overturned Roe v. Wade and affirmed that there is no
Federal constitutional right to an abortion;
Whereas the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization represents
a historic victory for the sanctity of life and for the millions of
people in the United States who have worked diligently over the last 5
decades to foster a culture of life in the United States;
Whereas the decision of the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health
Organization does not ban abortion but instead recognizes that under the
constitutional system of the United States, the power and the duty to
decide whether to permit or limit abortions lies with the States, not
unelected Federal judges;
Whereas, as the late Justice Scalia recognized 3 decades ago in his dissent in
Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833
(1992), ``The permissibility of abortion, and the limitations upon it,
are to be resolved like most important questions in our democracy: by
citizens trying to persuade one another and then voting.''; and
Whereas the decision of the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health
Organization returns the issue of abortion back to the States, for the
people of each State to debate and then vote: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) congratulates the pro-life movement and the millions of
individuals who have stood up for life over the last nearly 50
years on this historic victory in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's
Health Organization;
(2) celebrates the courage, compassion, and commitment of
the millions of individuals, nonpartisan organizations, and
lawmakers who have advocated for life and labored tirelessly to
overturn Roe v. Wade;
(3) lauds the Supreme Court of the United States for the
decision to return to the original understanding of the
Constitution of the United States and recognize that there is
no Federal constitutional right to an abortion;
(4) recognizes the uniqueness of the political system of
the United States, in which our States function as laboratories
of democracy, enabling citizens to debate issues like abortion
in the public square and make their voices heard by voting;
(5) affirms the commitment of Congress to ensuring the
safety of supporters of the pro-life movement, including lawful
demonstrators, volunteers, religious clergy, and crisis
pregnancy center personnel, as they continue to advocate for
the sanctity of every human life in all 50 States; and
(6) condemns all threats and incidents of violence fueled
by the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in
Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization and affirms the
commitment of Congress to ensuring the safety of justices of
the Supreme Court, their law clerks, other State and Federal
judges and their law clerks, members of Congress, and State
lawmakers.
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