I wholeheartedly believe that life begins at conception and support any efforts to educate others about pro-life issues.

There is substantial evidence that the abortion methods most commonly used 20 weeks after fertilization cause substantial pain to an unborn child.  This is why I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 356, the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act and a cosponsor of H.R. 6099.  These bills would require abortion providers to inform a woman seeking an abortion that the unborn child feels pain, and would give her the option of choosing anesthesia for the fetus. 

On December 6, I voted to support H.R. 6099 when it came to the House floor for a vote.  Although the bill received a majority of the votes in the House, the bill unfortunately did not pass because of a parliamentary rule put in place to limit debate on the bill.  Under this rule, the bill needed to receive at least two-thirds majority of the votes in order to pass in the House.

The unborn are the most innocent and vulnerable members of our society.  The Constitution already protects life, and I have sworn to uphold that constitution.  This is an issue we need to advocate for in the 110th Congress.  I will continue to serve all East Tennesseans by consistently voting for life.