April 18, 2007—In a 5-4 vote today, the United States Supreme Court handed down their decision to uphold the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003.  The Court’s decision came unexpectedly today and the majority opinion was handed down by Justice Anthony Kennedy.  Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02) made the following remarks in response to the Court’s historic vote:

Franks said, "Simply stated, the Supreme Court of the United States has recognized that it does not violate our Constitution when we protect a helpless human baby from the torturous death of partial birth abortion.  It remains astonishing beyond comprehension that any judge or reasonable human being would ever suggest otherwise."

The 5-4 ruling said the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, passed by Congress and signed into law in 2003 by President George W. Bush does not violate a woman's constitutional right to an abortion.

Franks continued, “This ruling marks a turning point for America’s collective conscience, because it calls upon all of us to ask anew the foundational questions: Does abortion kill a child?  And if so, how has it happened in America that the death toll of these innocents now approaches 50 million in the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

Congressman Franks is serving his third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and is a member of the Committee on Armed Services, Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Readiness Subcommittee, Committee on the Judiciary, and is Ranking Member on the Constitution Subcommittee.