WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Sen. Steve Daines announced Friday at the March for Life rally in the nation’s capital that he is forming the first ever “pro-life caucus” in the Senate.
The 46th Annual March for Life made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court steps Friday.
The event featured a rally of notable anti-abortion speakers, including Daines, a Montana Republican.
“Life begins at conception. Because of that, every life must be valued. This pro-life caucus and our new expanded pro-life majority, thank God in November we sent more pro-life senators to the to the United States Senate and that’s thanks to you,” Daines said. “That will allow us to accelerate the momentum of the past two years and protecting and defending life.”
Daines did not announce other Senate members of the caucus. The House has had a similar caucus since 1981, according to the National Review.
There was also a march from the National Mall to the Supreme Court.
This event is the largest annual gathering in the U.S. of opponents of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade, which effectively legalized abortion.
Laura Terrill, the vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood, sent Q2 this statement in response:
“Unfortunately, Senator Daines is out of touch with the majority of Americans who support maintaining and expanding access to sexual and reproductive health care – including safe, legal abortion. Recent polling from a non-partisan firm is as high as we have seen in many years. 73% of respondents say they do not want Roe v. Wade overturned and 67% think abortion should be legal in all or most cases. As we celebrate the upcoming 46th anniversary of the Roe decision, it is more important than ever to enact policies that protect safe, legal abortion. We saw a clear mandate from voters in the 2018 midterms – they want more access to health care, and policies that protect their rights and freedoms. When politicians attack health care, they dis-proportionally impact people of color, women, the LGBTQ community, and young people. We must work to ensure access to health care does not depend on who you are, where you live, or how much money you make.”
Reporting by Zoe Zandora for MTN News
