Bill Cassidy

11/30/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/30/2021 18:00

Cassidy Speaks on Mississippi Abortion Law Ahead of Supreme Court Oral Arguments

11.30.21

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today spoke about the sanctity of life as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The case is ruling on the Mississippi legislature's "Gestational Age Act" (HB 1510), which limits abortion to 15 weeks' gestation except in a medical emergency and in cases of "severe fetal abnormality."

"The reason we speak of 15 weeks and knowing whether or not it's a male or female, already you begin to see there's a child with a future," said Dr. Cassidy. "I sure hope the Supreme Court rules in their favor. I think it would not only be in favor of a child such as this. It shall also be in favor of our country as a whole."

Cassidy was joined by Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Thune (R-SD), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Todd Young (R-IN), and Mike Lee (R-UT).

Watch the full press conference here. The full transcript of Cassidy's remarks is below.

"You know, I could say as a physician I understand the importance of this, but I think we can all say as parents grandparents, as individuals, and as Americans why this is an important life.

And I say as a doctor I studied way back when the development of a child. But as an American, as a parent, as a grandfather, you look at this child and you see the potential. The reason we speak of 15 weeks and knowing whether or not it's a male or female, already you begin to see there's a child with a future.

The child's a female, she will have children in the future and she will have a grandchild and our life continues. This child has all the potential as sitting in this room, unless the child is terminated.

Now our country is terribly divided.

There are those among us who say there should be no restrictions and those who say there should be no restriction as every restriction. [sic]

I think the Mississippi law kind of gets it. It kind of says 'wait a second'-80 percent of Americans feel as if after 15 weeks this should not be allowed because that is when we can bestow personhood.

And with that, I think the Mississippi law actually has the ability to bring Americans together, not the extremes, I suppose, but all those 80 percent in the middle that see in this child all her potential, and see in her, our future.

So I want to thank the state of Mississippi, because they have actually arrived at a place I think our country needs to arrive at.

I sure hope the Supreme Court rules in their favor. I think it would not only be in favor of a child such as this. It shall also be in favor of our country as a whole."

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