WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the United States Supreme Court upheld the nationwide ban on partial birth abortions passed by Congress in 2003 in a 5-4 ruling. Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) cosponsored, and was a strong supporter of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, which protects the unborn by prohibiting the procedure in which an intact, living, fetus is partially delivered, and then killed.

“Today is a great day in our continuing fight to protect the lives of the unborn. I applaud the Supreme Court’s ruling in that they have reaffirmed the sanctity of life,” offered Congressman Aderholt.

In its ruling, the Court held that opponents of the act “have not demonstrated that the Act would be unconstitutional in a large fraction of relevant cases.” Those siding with the majority included Chief Justice John Roberts, Justice Anthony Kennedy, Justice Samuel Alito, Justice Clarence Thomas, and Justice Antonin Scalia.

Congressman Aderholt continued, “When people discuss abortion there is a tendency to couch the argument in terms of being simply a choice or decision. That’s not what the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act is about. This ban has everything to do with protecting the innocent lives of the most vulnerable among us and the cruel procedure of partial birth abortion.”

He concluded by saying, “Life is precious. To have continued allowing such a brutal, barbaric procedure is unconscionable. Again, I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision and look forward to the day when life, in all its forms, is given the respect it so richly deserves.”