January 30, 2015
Mr. Mark Watkins
3576 Generations Drive
South Bend, IN 46635-1559
Dear Mr. Watkins:
Thank you for contacting me in regards to H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this important issue.
As you may know, H.R. 36 was introduced by Representative Trent Franks on January 6, 2015. This bill would prevent an abortion from being performed at 20 weeks (5 months) or longer. However, there are three exemptions allowing for an abortion, which include saving the life of the mother, and cases of rape and incest. In cases of rape, the woman would of had to reported the rape to law enforcement in order to qualify for an exemption.
Let me be clear, I did not vote against the bill and did not oppose the bill being brought to the floor for a vote. The media and many outside organizations mischaracterized my removal as a cosponsor as me trying to block the bill, this narrative is inaccurate. After cosponsoring the bill, I met with House Leadership to urge them to clarify the language regarding the rape reporting requirement because this provision could possibly be misunderstood in legal situations. In addition, the rape reporting requirement could be in conflict with the work I have done with Military Sexual Trauma (MST), which implemented a process for the reporting of rape in order to receive treatment from the VA. Again, if the bill had come to the floor or comes to the floor again in its current form, I will be voting yes, just like I have voted with any other piece of pro-life legislation.
In the meantime, I supported a bill that would prohibit any taxpayer funds from being used towards abortion procedures. For years now, pro-life Americans have been forced to watch as their tax-dollars subsidize abortion procedures that they are morally opposed to. H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion legislation prohibits taxpayer funding of elective abortions, no matter where in the federal system these may occur.
I believe that all human life is good and worth protecting —that every human being has a right to live. We need to also ensure that women facing unwanted pregnancies do not face judgment or condemnation, but have positive support structures and access to health care to help them through their pregnancies. Thank you again for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Jackie Walorski
Member of Congress
Indiana Second District
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I was raped by my biological father at Fourteen years of age. I gave birth to my son at age Fifthteen. Not only were my wishes to parent this child crushed but then later, I waited six months to sign over guardianship of that child to my biological mother because the courts legally had to notify my rapist father, in doing so, giving him rights to say over my child whether I could sign or not. Are you kidding me.?! Laws do not currently protect women, or children, unborn and born. Abortion was never an option. My son is an innocent and a blessing. His DNA put my father away, which would have never happened otherwise since no one believed me before the DNA results came back. This is a cruel a disgusting joke. My son has just as much right to live as any. Oh and if you look up the statistics of offenders who actually serve any time at all for thier crimes on the National Rape and Incest Network, 98% walk away Scott free. This letter for this governor just goes to show how ignorant and hypocritical ” political correctness ” has made our current judicial system. Really want to help women, end abortion on demand, respects teens rights to raise their kids and increase the access to open adoption. Also, punish sex crimes harshly and do not under any circumstances give the offender rights to the child conceived from thier crime. Thanks Mark for righting this. I hope you can use some of what I have told you to effectively persuade these scaredy, back tracking, wishy washy, half ass, pretending to care politicians to sign the pain capable bill now! Thanks, have a great day.
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