March 26, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 52 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
All in House sectionPrev58 of 93Next
COMMEMORATING WORLD DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS DAY; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 52
(House of Representatives - March 26, 2019)
Text available as:
Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Pages H2822-H2824] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] COMMEMORATING WORLD DOWN SYNDROME AWARENESS DAY The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of January 3, 2019, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Estes) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, on March 21, our country and the world celebrated World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. This afternoon, I am happy to lead my colleagues in recognizing this important day and all of the contributions individuals with Down syndrome make each day to families, businesses, schools, and communities. From brothers and sisters to employees and businessowners, to artists and models, people with Down syndrome have an incredible impact on every part of society. They deserve our support, understanding, and full acceptance. Thankfully, there are many groups and programs that have made it their mission to support individuals with Down syndrome and their families. As Kansas State treasurer, I advocated for passage of the Federal ABLE Act and led the effort to implement it in Kansas. It is kind of one of those things that, several years ago, I didn't necessarily expect that I was going to be standing here today; so I was going through the process of how do we lobby, how do we make sure that a good program gets passed through the Federal legislative process that benefits so many people, and then having to take that initiative in my home State of Kansas and work through the legislature and making sure that we implemented it to help people's quality of life and enable them to live the lives that they wanted to live and make it more beneficial for them. This important law created tax-free savings accounts for individuals with disabilities to cover expenses like healthcare, education, housing, and transportation. It is important for parents raising a child to be able to help provide their care. Obviously, the concern on the part of parents is that, over years, particularly as the parents age, they want to make sure that their children, in some cases when they are in their adult life, are able to enjoy the life that they want and the life that they deserve. A program like ABLE is able to help make that dream come true. These programs are similar to the 529 college savings programs, health savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts. The ABLE accounts [[Page H2823]] give people with Down syndrome and other disabilities the opportunities to live the life they deserve. The Kansas ABLE Act went into effect in January 2017. I was proud to be part of that effort because it is the right thing to do. In Congress, I have been humbled to work with organizations like the National Down Syndrome Society to build upon the progress of the ABLE Act. Last year, I was honored to receive the 2018 National Down Syndrome Society Impact Award and look forward to supporting the mission in this Congress. This year, I am also honored to be on the honorary committee for the AcceptAbility Gala, hosted by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, an annual event in Washington, D.C., that supports lifesaving research and medical care for children and adults with Down syndrome. Back home in Kansas, I am also inspired by groups like the Arc of Sedgwick County, which supports individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome. Just as each of these groups, among numerous others, supports those with Down syndrome, it is my hope that, in Congress, we can do the same thing. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to discussing this more today, but, at this time, I am happy to yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber). Mr. STAUBER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, which was Thursday, March 21. One of the greatest blessings in my life is my 16-year-old son, Isaac, who has Down syndrome. Each day, he brings joy to our lives, and I am so proud of everything he has accomplished. World Down Syndrome Awareness Day is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges that Down syndrome brings, but it is also a chance to celebrate just how incredible people with Down syndrome truly are. It absolutely breaks my heart--just breaks my heart--when I hear some people say that they would rather get an abortion than have a child with Down syndrome. The sheer ignorance of those individuals is disheartening to me. They do not see what a blessing all of God's children are, even if they are different, and that is unfortunate for them. If they met my son Isaac, I know they would have a change of heart. When we talk about disabilities, I want us to talk about the abilities of those like my son Isaac. Instead of focusing on what they can't do, let's focus on what they can do. The limit to what people like Isaac can accomplish is not determined by their condition but by how much we love them and give them the empowerment so they can navigate the world of work, education, and public life. As Isaac's dad and now as a Member of Congress, I am committed to strongly advocating for the inclusiveness of those who live with disabilities and the protection of their lives, always. Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Stauber for those comments. Mr. Speaker, it is important for us, as Representatives, to actually stand up for what we think is important. Obviously, as parents, we all care about our children. We want to make sure they get the best opportunities that they can, and, as elected Representatives, one of the reasons I ran for office was to make sure that we could have an impact and make sure that we could make a difference in people's lives. When I look at the role of the Federal Government, one of the things that is most important for us is making sure that we can help those individuals live out the life that is embedded in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence and having the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, people having that opportunity to live and enjoy all the blessings of this great country. We can talk a lot about different issues, and there are, obviously, lots of us here in the Halls of Congress who want to talk about some of those issues. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), my good friend, who wants to weigh in on this subject as well. Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Kansas for yielding. I appreciate him organizing an opportunity to come to the House floor and talk about this important issue. As the father of two children, I have been committed to policies for a safe and enduring future for all kids and understand that we have to ensure the protection of kids no matter what their walk in life, particularly those with developmental disabilities. Mr. Speaker, over 200,000 in the United States live with Down syndrome, and one in 792 babies is born with this genetic disorder. While there have been great advances in medical research and public policy to enhance the lives of those affected by Down syndrome, there is still much work to be done. Individuals with disabilities face many challenges, and I understand the need to ensure access to vital services and medical equipment to support independent and active lives. This is critical to help effectively live with Down syndrome. Getting our kids the proper development path at a young age helps them ensure they will be healthier adults with a bright future. For over 20 years, I have watched with such pleasure young people begin to build that proper developmental path at Access Academy in Little Rock or Easter Seals Academy at Riverdale. As a former member of the board of directors of Arkansas Children's Hospital, I saw firsthand how important it was that parents are given the tools they need to keep their children healthy. This is particularly important for families who have a child with a disability. Back in 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed the ADA into law, the Americans with Disabilities Act. I was proud to have been working on President Bush's staff at that time. It was an amazing piece of legislative work that brought this Congress together and that has benefited thousands and millions of Americans and families since. I look forward to working with my colleagues to build upon that legislation so that all Americans can reach their full potential, no matter what challenges they face. I will continue to support efforts that provide services to individuals and families who are impacted by Down syndrome. Regardless of political ideology, I think we can all agree that every single child deserves protection. When I think about the kids over the past two decades whom I have watched grow up, who had incredibly nurturing parents who got them on that developmental path in the right way, who sacrificed so that they had that opportunity to talk about what my colleague did, the pursuit of happiness, and I see them smiling at workplaces when I visit in Conway, North Little Rock, and Little Rock, that they have a job, that they are out working, that they have that self-sufficiency and excitement of the work they do, it gives me such a warm feeling to see their success with all the hard work they have put into that pursuit of happiness. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I have to say, and I don't think it should be left unsaid today, that a right to abortion should not extend to children with traits deemed undesirable or inconvenient. Would we throw away a life so casually if a child had the wrong color eyes or off- texture hair? Of course not. If a child does not fit the physical or developmental ideals of their parents, they should be treated with the same degree of medical attention, love, and care as any other child. As a proud Catholic and proud pro-life Member of Congress, I believe we need to value life. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Kansas for hosting this important event today to talk about Down syndrome, the love we have for our American citizens who live with Down syndrome, and the affection we have and support we have for their families. {time} 1545 Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill). It is tremendous to be able to work with representatives like him that have a goal to focus on: how do we make life better? How do we provide opportunities for individuals? You touched on a sad part in society today where so many people seem to think that it is right that just because of some particular trait that the parents don't necessarily like, that they are able to kill individuals because of that through abortion. [[Page H2824]] When we are talking about Down syndrome and awareness of that, you know, it is a sad fact that we have got to address this issue. We have got to address that extreme discrimination that some individuals that want to impress upon those people who may have Down syndrome even before they have a chance to live a life. In the United States, two-thirds--67 percent--of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome while in the womb are aborted. In Europe, it is even worse. In France, the rate is 77 percent. In Denmark, it is 98 percent. And in Iceland, it is nearly 100 percent, where late-term abortions are allowed if the baby has a deformity, which includes Down syndrome, to quote a CBS News article. In a society where Down syndrome individuals can have a wonderful quality of life and pursue their dreams, this discrimination needs to be brought to light. We live during a time when there is so much medical innovation, so many opportunities, so many brilliant things that our doctors are developing, we need to make sure that we capitalize on that innovation, make sure that we allow people the opportunity to live a full life and live the opportunities that they enjoy. This innovation, unfortunately, has been used by individuals to determine the sex, determine if the child is healthy, determine if the child has certain traits; and in some cases, for positive reasons, to determine whether there is some medical necessity to operate while in the womb to make sure that that individual--that child--enjoys quality of life. However, we need to make sure that that testing process never gets corrupted, never gets used in a discriminatory way, and it is never used to justify abortion. It is a sad fact that we are seeing so many things being talked about in the abortion arena nowadays, and so many people beating that drum. We have got to stand up, you know, in our country. We want to be able to stand up for people's rights and we want to be able to stand up for the opportunities for babies to live and have the opportunity to live a life that we all will enjoy as well. I now yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin), my fellow colleague, the opportunity to speak and talk about this very important issue. Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my great colleague from the State of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, on March 21, we celebrated World Down Syndrome Awareness Day. What an appropriate thing to celebrate as folks with Down syndrome make incredible contributions to society every single day that should be acknowledged and appreciated. I, for one, am thankful for all of those with Down syndrome that I have had the great pleasure and honor of knowing and learning from. With the rise of prenatal screening tests across the United States, the number of babies born with Down syndrome every year has significantly decreased. And while we do not know the exact number of Down syndrome children who are aborted each year, it is estimated that approximately two-thirds of children diagnosed in the womb are aborted. Two-thirds of children who would go on to make a significant impact in this world are murdered before they are given a chance to even be able to have that opportunity. Iceland, in particular, has almost completely eradicated Down syndrome births. Statistics show that they have an almost 100 percent termination rate of Down syndrome children. France has a 77 percent termination rate; while Denmark is at 98 percent. I pray that the United States will reject the idea that Down syndrome children somehow are less than other children. As a society, we should move away from any idea that advocates killing any child in its mother's womb. And as a pro-life Congressman, I believe that all life is valuable, especially the lives of those who cannot speak for themselves. Aborted Down syndrome children are just that, they are children who have their own hopes and dreams for a future and to live a long, healthy life. To take away their right to life is inconceivable to me and abhorrent. I will continue to fight for legislation that protects every single unborn child, regardless of whether or not they have an extra chromosome. Mr. ESTES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Babin, and I appreciate those words. Mr. Speaker, we, as fellow colleagues, have such an important role trying to work on how we bring forth those American principles and opportunities for everybody. In recent months, we have seen politicians from States around the country embrace late-term abortions and openly discuss infanticide. Individuals with Down syndrome would be among the most severely impacted by these tragic policies. To help respond to that, my colleagues and I have repeatedly called to bring forward the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to the floor for a vote. This straightforward bill would require healthcare practitioners to give the same care to a child who has survived a botched abortion just as they would any other newborn child. Apparently, the bill has 182 cosponsors. Unfortunately, a vote on the bill has been blocked 21 times now by the majority. However, as we rise to commemorate World Down Syndrome Day, I call on my colleagues to consider this bill and any other one that would protect life and support those with Down syndrome. There are 250,000 people in America with Down syndrome. They live healthy, productive, happy lives, just like you and I do, and want to have the same hopes and dreams and goals. We need more awareness of what a diagnosis of Down syndrome really means. It means that a child simply has an extra chromosome and that nothing else about their life is different from you or me. They have so much to contribute to this world, and they deserve that chance. Last year, I had the chance to meet David Egan. David is a fellow working for the National Down Syndrome Society, and previously worked for the House Ways and Means Committee. When I met him, he told me how much he wanted to help others with Down syndrome accomplish anything they wanted to do, just as he has done in his own life and career. I am inspired by people like David, and I want to thank my colleagues who join me today for this Special Order recognizing World Down Syndrome Day. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with Congress to support those with Down syndrome, and with that, I yield back the balance of my time. ____________________
All in House sectionPrev58 of 93Next