Legislative Action Alert- July 10, 2003

Senate Republican Leadership Seeks Action on
Unborn Victims of Violence Act, But Democrats Resist

California U.S. Senators:
Dianne Feinstein      202-224-3841
Barbara Boxer            202-224-3553

WASHINGTON (July 10, 2003) -- All pro-life resources should immediately be focused on members of the U.S. Senate to insist that they act THIS MONTH on the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (S. 1019).

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tn.) has said that he wants to bring the bill up this month -- before a month-long congressional recess.  But so far, Democratic leaders have been unwilling to agree to a "unanimous consent agreement," under which opponents of the bill would not be allowed to filibuster or to bog down the bill with amendments that address entirely unrelated issues.

In a letter to a constituent dated June 12, Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (SD) avoided saying whether he will support the bill, but wrote, "I agree with the Republican Leader that Congress should consider this issue expeditiously."  Yet, behind the scenes, Daschle and other key Democrats have been unwilling to agree to allow the bill to come up in an orderly fashion.

All NRLC affiliates and other pro-life groups and citizens should promptly call their senators' offices and urge IMMEDIATE approval of the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, or "Laci and Conner's Law" (S. 1019).  All senators' offices can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. 

The bill is sometimes referred to as "Laci and Conner's Law" in recognition of the much-publicized murders of Laci Peterson and her unborn son Conner.  Sharon Rocha -- the mother of Laci and grandmother of Conner -- has written letters to a number of key senators, including Daschle, urging them to enact the bill promptly, and condemning the "single-victim" substitute proposal that is being promoted by some pro-abortion lawmakers and groups. 

In a letter to key sponsors of the bill, dated June 16, Rocha also urged the sponsors to ignore those who have criticized linking the bill to the Peterson murder case.  "[W]e believe that our case does provide a powerful illustration of why this type of law is absolutely necessary, and we urge you to continue to point [to] that connection," she said.  (The letter to sponsors is posted at: http://www.nrlc.org/Unborn_victims/sharonrochalettertokeysponsors.html )

On July 8, the House Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee conducted a public hearing on unborn victims of violence.  The subcommittee heard testimony from Tracy Marciniak, a surviving mother whose personal experience was featured in the June 9 Newsweek cover story, "Should a Fetus Have Rights?"  The testimony of Tracy Marciniak is posted here:
http://www.nrlc.org/Unborn_victims/MarciniakTestimony.htm

The debate over unborn victims of violence is distilled in a powerful photograph of Marciniak and her son Zachariah, which is reproduced in a recently issued NRLC ad posted here (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader):  www.nrlc.org/Unborn_victims/UVVA%20-%20Dont%20tell%20me.pdf

In her testimony, Marciniak said that lawmakers who vote for the "single-victim" substitute amendment "would be saying to all of the future mothers, fathers, and grandparents, who lose their unborn children in future federal crimes, 'You didn't really lose a baby.'  Please don't tell us that.  Please don't tell me that my son was not a real murder victim."

Likewise, in a July 7 letter to Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) -- who has expressed support for the "single-victim" approach -- Sharon Rocha wrote that "adoption of such a single-victim proposal would be a painful blow to those, like me, who are left to grieve after a two-victim crime, because Congress would be saying that Conner and other innocent victims like him are not really victims -- indeed, that they never really existed at all. But our grandson did live.  He had a name, he was loved, and his life was violently taken from him before he ever saw the sun."

The issue boils down to this:  When a criminal attacks a pregnant woman, injuring or killing her, and also injuring or killing her unborn child -- has he claimed one victim, or two?  According to a Newsweek poll released on June 1, 84% of the public believe that the killing of the unborn child should be recognized as a homicide (56% throughout development, another 28% after "viability"), while only 9 percent disagreed.  But how will the U.S. Senate answer that question -- and when?

NRLC affiliates and other pro-life groups should do everything possible to engender public discussion of unborn victims of violence during the days just ahead, in order to increase pressure on the Senate to act promptly.   For example, radio talk shows should be encouraged to schedule interviews or debates on the subject.  NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson and other NRLC spokespersons are available for interviews, radio debates, and other media inquiries on the unborn victims issue.  Inquiries should be directed by phone to 202-626-8820 or by e-mail to Legfederal@aol.com.

For additional information and documents on unborn victims of violence, visit the NRLC website section on the issue at:   http://www.nrlc.org/Unborn_victims/index.html . 

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