Title: A resolution congratulating the pro-life movement on its historic victory in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Summary:
This resolution congratulates the pro-life movement on the Supreme Court's ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (that there is no constitutional right to abortion), recognizes the role of states as laboratories of democracy, and expresses a commitment to ensuring the safety of pro-life supporters, government officials, and court personnel in the wake of the Court's ruling.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 705 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 705

 Congratulating the pro-life movement on its historic victory in Dobbs 
                v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 13, 2022

   Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Mr. Lee, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Risch, Mr. 
  Crapo, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Braun, Mr. Wicker, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Young, Mr. 
  Rubio, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Thune, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. 
Hyde-Smith, and Mr. Marshall) submitted the following resolution; which 
             was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Congratulating the pro-life movement on its historic victory in Dobbs 
                v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

Whereas the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States (referred to in 
        this preamble as the ``Supreme Court'') in Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 
        (1973), was a blatant act of judicial activism that invented a 
        constitutional right to abortion out of whole cloth, with no grounding 
        in the text of the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas more than 63,000,000 babies have been aborted in the United States since 
        the decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade;
Whereas the decision in Roe v. Wade caused great damage to the democratic system 
        of the United States by preventing citizens of the United States from 
        making decisions about the legality of abortion and instead putting 
        these decisions in the hands of unelected Federal judges;
Whereas, far from settling the issue of abortion in the United States, the 
        decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade has exacerbated social 
        tensions, inflamed the politics of the United States, disrupted the 
        democratic processes of the United States, and divided the people of the 
        United States;
Whereas, in the aftermath of the decision of the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade, 
        millions of volunteers, nonpartisan organizations, and lawmakers came 
        together with a shared voice to stand up for the rights of the unborn, 
        who are the most vulnerable among us;
Whereas these supporters of the pro-life movement come from diverse backgrounds, 
        with the shared goal of building a society that celebrates, protects, 
        and cherishes life at all stages;
Whereas the pro-life movement has worked tirelessly over the last 5 decades to 
        reverse the legally unsound and destructive ruling in Roe v. Wade and to 
        ensure that the human dignity of every person is protected by law, 
        regardless of age, background, or belief;
Whereas the work of the pro-life movement has been more than simply advocating 
        for the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and often occurs behind 
        the scenes, with little recognition of the time and talent that 
        countless individuals have invested in the effort to protect life;
Whereas millions of people in the United States have contributed to the 
        cultivation of a culture of life in the United States by marching for 
        life on the streets of cities in the United States, engaging in sidewalk 
        counseling outside abortion clinics, providing resources for expectant 
        mothers, raising money and volunteering their time for crisis pregnancy 
        centers, adopting and fostering children, advocating for life-affirming 
        legislation in every State, and submitting amicus briefs in abortion-
        related cases at the State and Federal level;
Whereas, on June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v. 
        Jackson Women's Health Organization, No. 19-1392, 2022 WL 2276808 
        (2022), which overturned Roe v. Wade and affirmed that there is no 
        Federal constitutional right to an abortion;
Whereas the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization represents 
        a historic victory for the sanctity of life and for the millions of 
        people in the United States who have worked diligently over the last 5 
        decades to foster a culture of life in the United States;
Whereas the decision of the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health 
        Organization does not ban abortion but instead recognizes that under the 
        constitutional system of the United States, the power and the duty to 
        decide whether to permit or limit abortions lies with the States, not 
        unelected Federal judges;
Whereas, as the late Justice Scalia recognized 3 decades ago in his dissent in 
        Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 
        (1992), ``The permissibility of abortion, and the limitations upon it, 
        are to be resolved like most important questions in our democracy: by 
        citizens trying to persuade one another and then voting.''; and
Whereas the decision of the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health 
        Organization returns the issue of abortion back to the States, for the 
        people of each State to debate and then vote: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) congratulates the pro-life movement and the millions of 
        individuals who have stood up for life over the last nearly 50 
        years on this historic victory in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's 
        Health Organization;
            (2) celebrates the courage, compassion, and commitment of 
        the millions of individuals, nonpartisan organizations, and 
        lawmakers who have advocated for life and labored tirelessly to 
        overturn Roe v. Wade;
            (3) lauds the Supreme Court of the United States for the 
        decision to return to the original understanding of the 
        Constitution of the United States and recognize that there is 
        no Federal constitutional right to an abortion;
            (4) recognizes the uniqueness of the political system of 
        the United States, in which our States function as laboratories 
        of democracy, enabling citizens to debate issues like abortion 
        in the public square and make their voices heard by voting;
            (5) affirms the commitment of Congress to ensuring the 
        safety of supporters of the pro-life movement, including lawful 
        demonstrators, volunteers, religious clergy, and crisis 
        pregnancy center personnel, as they continue to advocate for 
        the sanctity of every human life in all 50 States; and
            (6) condemns all threats and incidents of violence fueled 
        by the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in 
        Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization and affirms the 
        commitment of Congress to ensuring the safety of justices of 
        the Supreme Court, their law clerks, other State and Federal 
        judges and their law clerks, members of Congress, and State 
        lawmakers.
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