January 19, 2018

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP TO MARCH FOR LIFE PARTICIPANTS AND PRO-LIFE LEADERS

Rose Garden

12:30 P.M. EST
 
THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  That's so nice.  Sit, please.  We have tens of thousands of people watching us right down the road -- tens of thousands.  So I congratulate you.  And at least we picked a beautiful day.  You can't get a more beautiful day.
 
I want to thank our Vice President, Mike Pence, for that wonderful introduction.  I also want to thank you and Karen for being true champions for life.  Thank you, and thank Karen.  (Applause.)
 
Today, I'm honored and really proud to be the first President to stand with you here at the White House to address the 45th March for Life.  That's very, very special -- 45th March for Life.  (Applause.)
 
And this is a truly remarkable group.  Today, tens of thousands of families, students, and patriots -- and, really, just great citizens -- gather here in our nation’s capital.  You come from many backgrounds, many places.  But you all come for one beautiful cause: to build a society where life is celebrated, protected, and cherished.
 
The March for Life is a movement born out of love.  You love your families, you love your neighbors, you love our nation, and you love every child, born and unborn, because you believe that every life is sacred, that every child is a precious gift from God.  (Applause.)
 
We know that life is the greatest miracle of all.  We see it in the eyes of every new mother who cradles that wonderful, innocent, and glorious newborn child in her loving arms.
 
I want to thank every person here today and all across our country who works with such big hearts and tireless devotion to make sure that parents have the care and support they need to choose life.  Because of you, tens of thousands of Americans have been born and reached their full, God-given potential -- because of you.
 
You're living witnesses of this year’s March for Life theme.  And that theme is: Love saves lives.  (Applause.)
 
As you all know, Roe vs. Wade has resulted in some of the most permissive abortion laws anywhere in the world.  For example, in the United States, it's one of only seven countries to allow elective late-term abortions, along with China, North Korea, and others.
 
Right now, in a number of states, the laws allow a baby to be born [torn] from his or her mother’s womb in the ninth month. It is wrong; it has to change.
 
Americans are more and more pro-life.  You see that all the time.  In fact, only 12 percent of Americans support abortion on demand at any time.
 
Under my administration, we will always defend the very first right in the Declaration of Independence, and that is the right to life.  (Applause.) 
 
Tomorrow will mark exactly one year since I took the oath of office.  And I will say, our country is doing really well.  Our economy is perhaps the best it's ever been.  You look at the job numbers; you look at the companies pouring back into our country; you look at the stock market at an all-time high; unemployment, 17-year low.
 
Unemployment for African American workers, at the lowest mark in the history of our country.  Unemployment for Hispanic, at a record low in history.  Unemployment for women, think of this, at an 18-year low.  We're really proud of what we're doing.
 
And during my first week in office, I reinstated a policy first put in place by President Ronald Reagan, the Mexico City policy.  (Applause.)
 
I strongly supported the House of Representative’s Pain-Capable bill, which would end painful, late-term abortions nationwide.   And I call upon the Senate to pass this important law and send it to my desk for signing.  (Applause.) 
 
On the National Day of Prayer, I signed an executive order to protect religious liberty.  (Applause.)  Very proud of that.
 
Today, I’m announcing that we have just issued a new proposal to protect conscience rights and religious freedoms of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals.  So important.  (Applause.)
 
I have also just reversed the previous administration’s policy that restricted states’ efforts to direct Medicaid funding away from abortion facilities that violate the law.  (Applause.)
 
We are protecting the sanctity of life and the family as the foundation of our society.  But this movement can only succeed with the heart and the soul and the prayer of the people.
 
Here with us today is Marianne Donadio from Greensboro, North Carolina.  Where is Marianne?  Hello.  Come on up here, Marianne.  Come.  (Applause.)  Nice to see you, Marianne.
 
Marianne was 17 when she found out she was pregnant.  At first, she felt like she had no place to turn.  But when she told her parents, they responded with total love, total affection, total support.  Great parents?  Great?
 
MS. DONADIO:  Wonderful parents, yes.
 
THE PRESIDENT:  I thought you were going to say that.  I had to be careful.  (Laughter.)
 
Marianne bravely chose life and soon gave birth to her son.  She named him Benedict, which means blessing.
 
Marianne was so grateful for her parents’ love and support that she felt called to serve those who were not as fortunate as her.  She joined with others in her community to start a maternity home to care for homeless women who were pregnant.  That's great.  They named it “Room at the Inn.”
 
Today, Marianne and her husband, Don, are the parents of six beautiful children, and her eldest son Benedict and her daughter Maria join us here today.  Where are they?  (Applause.)  Come on over.  How are you?  That's great.
 
Over the last 15 years, Room at the Inn has provided housing, childcare, counseling, education, and job training to more than 400 women.  Even more importantly, it has given them hope.  It has shown each woman that she is not forgotten, that she is not alone, and that she really now has a whole family of people who will help her succeed.
 
That hope is the true gift of this incredible movement that brings us together today.  It is the gift of friendship, the gift of mentorship, and the gift of encouragement, love, and support.  Those are beautiful words, and those are beautiful gifts.  And most importantly of all, it is the gift of life itself.
 
That is why we march.  That is why we pray.  And that is why we declare that America’s future will be filled with goodness, peace, joy, dignity, and life for every child of God.
 
Thank you to the March for Life -- special, special people.  And we are with you all the way.  May God bless you and may God bless America.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.
 
                             END                3:36 P.M. EST

REMARKS BY VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE TO MARCH FOR LIFE PARTICIPANTS AND PRO-LIFE LEADERS

Rose Garden

12:26 P.M. EST
 
     THE VICE PRESIDENT:  To all here in the Rose Garden and to the vast gathering of Americans, young and old, on our National Mall at this very hour, welcome back to Washington, D.C. and welcome back to the largest pro-life gathering in the United States of America, the 45th annual March for Life.  (Applause.)
 
     More than 240 years ago, our Founders wrote words that have echoed through the ages.  They declared "these Truths to be self-evident," that we are, each of us, endowed by our "Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness."
 
     Forty-five years ago, the Supreme Court of the United States turned its back on the unalienable right to life.  But in that moment, our movement began.  A movement that continues to win hearts and minds.  A movement defined by generosity, compassion, and love.  And a movement that one year ago, tomorrow, inaugurated the most pro-life President in American history, President Donald Trump.  (Applause.)
 
     From preventing taxpayer dollars from funding abortion overseas to empowering states to respect life and Title X, to nominating judges who will uphold our God-given liberties enshrined in the Constitution of the United States.  This President has been a tireless defender of life and conscience in America.  And today, President Trump will do even more to defend the most vulnerable in our society.
 
     My friends, life is winning in America because love saves lives.  And know, as you march for life, that your compassion, your persistence, your activism, and your prayers are saving lives.  And this pro-life generation should never doubt we are with you.  This President stands with you.  And He who said, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you," is with you as well.
 
     And I believe with all of my heart, with your continued dedication and compassion, with pro-life majorities in the Congress, with President Donald Trump in this White House, and with God's help, we will restore the sanctity of life to the center of American law.  (Applause.)
 
     And so, with a grateful heart, on this 45th annual March for Life, it is now my high honor and distinct privilege to introduce to you the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump.  (Applause.)
 
                             END                12:30 P.M. EST
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2018


PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS STANDING UP FOR THE SANCTITY OF LIFE

“We cherish the sacred dignity of every human life.” – President Donald J. Trump

AN IGNOBLE EXCEPTION: The United States is one of a few countries to allow elective abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
 
·         The United States is one of only seven countries that allow for elective abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy; two of the other countries are North Korea and China.
·         Research shows unborn babies feel pain as early as 20 weeks to such a degree that anesthesia is routinely administered to unborn babies undergoing in utero surgeries and premature infants of the same age undergoing surgery.
·         In the United States, taxpayer funding subsidizes 900 health care plans that cover abortions, according to the Charlotte Lozier Institute.
·         Under the previous administration, States were allowed to outlaw pro-life health insurance with impunity.

AMERICANS SUPPORT PRO-LIFE POLICIES: Public support for pro-life policies remains high according to recent polling.

·         A recent Marist-Knights of Columbus poll shows the majority of Americans, 56 percent, believe abortion to be morally wrong.
·         More than three in four Americans support restrictions on abortion.
o   Even six in ten of those who identify as pro-choice support restrictions on abortion.
·         63 percent of Americans support a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
o   Even the majority of pro-choice Americans, 56 percent, support banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
o   Public support for banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy has grown by four percent in the last year.
·         Six in ten Americans oppose using taxpayer money to fund abortions.
·         The majority of Americans, 52 percent, believe that, in the long run, having an abortion does more harm than good to a woman’s life.
·         Nearly half of all Americans, 47 percent, believe life begins at conception, and 62 percent believe it begins within the first three months of a pregnancy.

COMMITTED TO PROTECTING LIFE: President Donald J. Trump has shown his steadfast commitment to preserving the precious gift of life and defending religious liberty.

·         President Trump is the first sitting President to address the March for Life live via satellite.
o   Vice President Mike Pence addressed the March for Life in 2017, becoming the first sitting Vice President to do so in person.
·         Today, the Department of Health and Human Services is announcing a proposal to revise its conscience regulations to protect President Trump’s promise to enforce Federal conscience and religious freedom protections. The proposed conscience provisions include:
o   Restricting taxpayer funds, including Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare, from being used by entities with discriminatory policies or practices,
o   Protecting Americans who have religious or moral convictions related to certain health care services,
o   Recognizing that Americans should not be discriminated against for their religious or moral beliefs when participating in certain health services.
·         Just after taking office, President Trump reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy, which protects $9 billion in foreign aid from being used to fund the global abortion industry.
·         President Trump cut off taxpayer funding for the U.N. Population Fund, which colludes with China’s cruel program of forced abortion and sterilization.
·         President Trump signed H.J. Res. 43 into law, overturning a midnight regulation by the Obama Administration, which prohibited States from defunding certain abortion facilities in their federally-funded family planning programs.
·         President Trump has expressed strong support for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would stop late-term abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, when science tells us that an unborn child can experience pain.
·         President Trump’s Administration issued guidance to enforce the requirement that taxpayer dollars not support abortion coverage in Obamacare exchange plans.
·         President Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services just announced the formation of a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, tasked with ensuring that laws that protect religious freedom and conscience rights are appropriately enforced.
 
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