Floor Statements

Mr. President, I join my colleagues today highlighting the momentous occasion for not only my home State of Mississippi but for our entire Nation. Senator Roger Wicker and I could not be prouder of our State.

Tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, a challenge to a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks. This law, the Gestational Age Act, was introduced by my friend, Mississippi State Representative Becky Currie, and was signed into law by Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant in 2018.

This case presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Court to reconsider decades of misguided abortion law that began with Roe v. Wade and has continued under Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

There is no doubt that this case is the most significant pro-life legal opening in half a century and, certainly, in my lifetime. I am very proud that my State of Mississippi is in the center of this.

In the 48 years since the decision in Roe v. Wade, 62 million unborn babies have lost their lives. This is a terrible moral stain on our Nation that we have a chance to reverse at long last.

There are many reasons for the Supreme Court to reconsider its course. For one, medical technology has made significant advances-- especially with ultrasound technology--making clear what those of us in the pro-life movement already knew: that unborn children are human beings.

Thanks in large part to the ultrasound technology, we now know that, by 15 weeks, an unborn baby has a fully developed heart with a strong heartbeat, responds to touch, and can make facial expressions, yawn, hiccup, and suck their thumbs.

For another, the United States is a real outlier in the world when it comes to the abortion issue. We are one of only seven countries that allow abortions on demand up until the moment of birth, along with the likes of China and North Korea.

The Supreme Court should uphold Mississippi's law, bringing our Nation closer to the international consensus on human rights for the unborn.

As a legislator, I am confident in saying it is time for our laws to reflect what the rest of the world has already figured out: that life exists before birth and it needs to be protected. The only difference between a fetus and a first grader is 6 years.

Since the Supreme Court announced it would take up the Dobbs case, I have been earnestly praying for this case. I pray for the Members of the Supreme Court to be open to the legal and moral arguments against Roe v. Wade. May God grant them the wisdom for the task and grace for the unborn.

I have also been praying for my friend Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, our State's solicitor general, Scott Stuart, and the many others in the AG's office who have worked tirelessly to represent our State so well in this case.

With the oral arguments scheduled for tomorrow morning, I pray that God would grant them all confidence and courage, as well as the right words to say in the Court.

Most of all, I have been praying for all the unborn children whose right to life hangs in the balance of this case.

Throughout this time, I have kept the words of I Samuel 1:27 close to my heart: ``For this child I have prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition, which I asked of him.''

So today, tonight, and tomorrow morning, I will be praying without ceasing. I hope each of you will join me in prayer for this historic court decision that started in Mississippi.

May the Dobbs case restore the sanctity of life and reverse the moral stain of Roe v. Wade.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Madam President, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear the most anticipated abortion case in nearly 30 years when it considers Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in oral argument on December 1, 2021. This development allows us to consider the many people whose dedication to the pro-life cause has led us to this point. One of those people is former President Donald J. Trump. The pro-life movement would not be where it is today absent his advocacy for pro- life policies and for conservative judges.

In January 2016, Presidential candidate Trump said, ``America, when it is at its best, follows a set of rules that have worked since our Founding. One of those rules is that we, as Americans, revere life and have done so since our Founders made it the first, and most important, of our `unalienable' rights.''

He continued, ``Over time, our culture of life in this country has started sliding toward a culture of death. Perhaps the most significant piece of evidence to support this assertion is that since Roe v. Wade was decided by the Supreme Count 43 years ago, over 50 million Americans never had the chance to enjoy the opportunities offered by this country. They never had the chance to become doctors, musicians, farmers, teachers, husbands, fathers, sons or daughters. They never had the chance to enrich the culture of this nation or to bring their skills, lives, loves or passions into the fabric of this country. They are missing, and they are missed.''

These words helped guide President Trump's actions in office as he advocated for pro-life policies both domestically and abroad. Domestically, President Trump fought to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers from receiving Federal funding. He prohibited such entities from receiving title X funding and permitted States to prohibit them from participating in Medicaid as well. In 2018, President Trump issued a rule requiring health insurers to specify whether plans cover abortion. He also issued rules to protect religious objectors and moral objectors from the Department of Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate. In addition, the President established a new Conscience and Religious Freedom division of the Office for Civil Rights to protect healthcare providers who object to participating in abortions.

President Trump's commitment to the unborn was just as strong abroad. Just days after his inauguration, President Trump ended Federal funding of abortion overseas by reinstating the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits nongovernment organizations receiving U.S. aid grants from performing and promoting abortions overseas. He directed the Secretary of State to implement the ban on taxpayer funds for overseas abortions across most U.S. global health programs through his Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy.

In addition, President Trump also defunded the United Nations Population Fund, a program long tied to China's forced abortion one- child policy. To further underline this, the Trump administration in 2020 declared to the United Nations that abortion is not a human right and signed the Geneva Consensus Declaration, where 33 nations joined together to reaffirm the value of unborn life. Finally, in January 2021, the Trump administration and called for the Chinese Communist Party to immediately end its system of forced abortions.

In addition to his work within the executive branch, President Trump also showed his commitment to the pro-life cause by nominating constitutional conservative and originalist judges to the Federal judiciary. He nominated three originalist Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court: Justice Neil Gorsuch in 2017, Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett in 2020. More broadly, President Trump nominated 234 new article III judges who share this commitment to upholding our Constitution as written.

As the pro-life movement advances, it is important for us to recognize how we got here. Former President Trump deserves praise for all his administration did over the past 4 years to advance the cause of the unborn. I am gratitude for that work and recognize the tireless advocacy of the Trump administration to protect both women and their babies.

Madam President, for many years, thousands of members of the Intercessors for America--IFA--have been devoted to prayer and fasting in the name of protecting the unborn and of ending abortion. The IFA was founded in 1973 in an era when our Nation experienced turmoil within the political, moral, and traditional values that are the cornerstone of our Nation.

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its divisive landmark decision in Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortion and shocking the majority of Americans. IFA has worked since then to mobilize our Nation to pray for the protection of innocent life and to find unity among the cultural conflicts in our country. Today, IFA is a national organization of millions of like-minded people who are steadfast in praying for God's support and guidance for our Nation's executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

I thank the members of IFA for their dedication, prayers, and fasting in support of the sanctity of life. Their work has helped increase awareness for the pro-life movement and its overarching goal to defend the unborn. It is the decades of prayer and hard work of so many pro- life advocates that has led us to this moment in history in which the Supreme Court will be hearing oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. This case, which focuses on the constitutionality of a Mississippi law that bars abortion after 15 weeks, could reset the abortion issue and return it to elected leaders, who are more directly accountable to the people than Federal judges.

Today, I recognize and pay tribute to the role of the IFA in the nearly 50-year fight to protect innocent life in the womb. I also join with the IFA in praying for the members of our Supreme Court, who are now preparing to hear the Dobbs case. May God grant each Justice wisdom for the task and mercy for the unborn.

Madam President, it is an honor to pay tribute to my fellow public servant Sam Brownback of Kansas. During his service both as Governor of Kansas and as a U.S. Senator, he advocated tirelessly for the right to life. More recently, during the last administration, he served as the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, fighting for the free exercise of religion abroad.

After a couple years in the House of Representatives, Ambassador Brown- back represented Kansas in the Senate from 1996 to 2011. He came to the Capitol with a background similar to mine. I served as the Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce prior to coming to the Senate, and Ambassador Brownback served as Kansas's Secretary of Agriculture before coming to DC.

Upon joining the Senate, Ambassador Brownback consistently supported pro-life legislation and voted in defense of the sanctity of life. Through his 15 years in the Senate, he supported pro-life legislation including the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, the Born Alive Infants Protection Act, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, and the Hyde amendment.

This support for unborn life continued when the people of Kansas elected Sam Brownback to be their Governor, a position in which he served from 2011 to 2018. As Governor, he signed numerous laws protecting unborn human life, including a measure that made Kansas the first State to ban dismemberment abortions. Furthermore, during his tenure, Kansas passed laws restricting funding to abortion providers and banning sex-selective abortions, among many others.

Sam Brownback's steadfast efforts paid off. By the time he became an Ambassador in 2018, Kansas had become the second most pro-life State in the Nation, as ranked by the Americans United for Life. In fact, the number of abortions in Kansas dropped by nearly 30 percent, a testimony to the success of his policies promoting a culture of life.

But his efforts did not stop there. Upon his confirmation in 2018 as the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, he continued the fight to protect life and stand up against injustice abroad. He worked hand-in-hand with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in condemning the Chinese Communist Party for its regime of forced abortions and sterilizations.

Throughout his long and commendable career in public service, Ambassador Brownback has shown a remarkable commitment to the sanctity of life. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case, I am pleased to rise to recognize leaders in the pro-life movement who have advanced the cause to this point. Ambassador Brownback is definitely among those leaders for his many years as a champion for life.

Madam President, as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case, I am taking time to recognize leaders in the pro-life movement who have helped bring us to this point. Today, I pay tribute to former Congressman Sean Duffy, who represented the pro-life values of the Seventh District of Wisconsin for five terms from 2011-2019.

Throughout his time in the House, Representative Duffy remained unwavering in his commitment to the sanctity of life. Whatever pro-life issue

arose, Representative Duffy was there to defend the unborn and the value of all life.

As religious liberty issues entered in the debate over the Affordable Care Act--ACA--Representative Duffy fought to keep taxpayer funding from covering abortions in ACA health plans. His opposition was part of his larger effort to oppose taxpayer funding for abortion in any arena, a fight embodied in his support of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.

As our Nation a few years later learned of the horrors perpetrated by notorious abortionist Kermit Gosnell, Representative Duffy took to the House floor to highlight the evil of abortion as shown in Gosnell's case.

When videos revealed that Planned Parenthood was illegally selling fetal tissue from aborted babies, Representative Duffy joined his colleagues in calling for an investigation into this travesty. His pro- life leadership role led to an appointment to the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Select Investigative Panel on Planned Parenthood that investigated that organization's illegal fetal tissue sales.

A true pro-life hero, Representative Duffy leads by example in living out his pro-life values. On August 2019, Representative Duffy announced his resignation to focus on his ninth child who was born with heart defects and Down's syndrome.

Representative Duffy, along with his wife Rachel Campos-Duffy, stands as an inspirational example of how to champion pro-life and pro-family values in both public roles and in private lives.

Madam President, I rise to recognize Bethany Kozma, former Deputy Chief of Staff at the United States Agency for International Development--USAID. She deserves to be honored for her tireless work during the last administration to execute pro-life, pro- family, and pro-religious freedom policies across USAID.

While her efforts in this regard garnered criticism, Mrs. Kozma remained resolute in advancing the Agency's firm pro-life positions. Her courage is an example to us all to cling tightly to our strongly held values, even in face of criticism.

Standing strong, Mrs. Kozma played an integral role in helping the U.S. Department of State, USAID, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services better synchronize their efforts in countless multilateral negotiations. This synergy helped ensure that the agreements formed by those negotiations did not promote or permit abortion.

In my own work here in the Senate, I know staff members toiling behind the scenes do important work that allows me to do my job successfully. No doubt, that is also true in the executive branch.

The work of dedicated agency staff like Mrs. Kozma was integral to the many pro-life successes of the past administration. Her tireless work helped ensure the United States could lead in pro-life policies abroad. Mrs. Kozma and others like her deserve recognition and our gratitude.

Madam President, I rise to pay tribute to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. During Mr. Pompeo's time at the State Department, he worked tirelessly to defend unborn children around the world. Under then-Secretary Pompeo's leadership, the United States stood as a nation that values all human rights, including the right to life. His bold leadership encouraged other world leaders to join the United States in standing against efforts by some within the United Nations to make abortion on demand an international right.

Mr. Pompeo established his pro-life bona fides during his four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. During that time, he supported numerous pieces of pro-life legislation, such as the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act and the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

His commitment to the pro-life cause continued in his role as our Nation's top diplomat. A few particular successes stand out.

First, Secretary Pompeo initiated a new compliance mechanism to ensure enforcement of the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits taxpayer dollars from being used for abortion overseas. Under the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy, the State Department would refuse to partner with any foreign organizations involved in supporting abortions. Additionally, these nongovernment organizations will also have to provide certification to the State Department that they are not involved with abortions. This highly successful policy closed an overwhelming proportion of the loopholes that had previously allowed organizations to skirt compliance with the Mexico City Policy.

Second, Secretary Pompeo ensured full enforcement of the Siljander amendment, an annual rider in the State and foreign operations appropriations bill to prohibit the use of U.S. funds, including foreign assistance, to lobby for or against abortion abroad.

Third, the Department of State led the United States to sign the Geneva Consensus Declaration in 2020, which reaffirmed ``that there is no international right to abortion.'' Thirty-three other nations, representing more than 1.6 billion people, also signed the declaration, an achievement that would not have been possible without American leadership on the issue.

Finally, Pompeo's Department of State in 2020 also sanctioned China for its many human rights abuses, including forced abortions and forced sterilizations.

These accomplishments make clear that former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made true strides in vigorously defending the right to life of the unborn babies around the globe. His endeavors deserve our applause and gratitude.

Madam President, I rise to pay tribute to Morse Tan, former Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice, whose dedication to the legal defense of human rights and the rights of the unborn is commendable.

Morse Tan's work to promote these values has spanned the globe. As an expert on North Korea, he has written extensively about the human rights abuses occurring in that country and how those responsible can be held accountable. In his book, ``North Korea, International Law and the Dual Crises: Narrative and Constructive Engagement,'' Tan sheds light on the genocide of Christians in North Korea, focusing specifically on the forced abortions imposed on many North Korean women.

As Ambassador at Large for Global Criminal Justice during the last administration, Ambassador Tan worked to gather evidence of China's repressive treatment of the Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities, including forced abortions and forced sterilizations. Based in part on the Ambassador's work, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in July 2020 imposed sanctions on Chinese officials because of human rights abuses. Furthermore, Secretary Pompeo determined that China had committed crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghurs and other ethnic minority groups, based on the findings of an internal review led by Ambassador Tan.

Ambassador Tan has also undertaken significant work on behalf of the sanctity of life in the United States as well. He has filed amicus briefs in two Supreme Court cases regarding pro-life issues. In McCorvey v. Hill, Ambassador Tan coordinated, researched, and edited some 24 amicus briefs on behalf of Norma McCorvey, who was the plaintiff ``Jane Roe'' in Roe v. Wade. In Cano v. Baker, he coordinated, researched, and edited 22 amicus briefs on behalf of Sandra Cano, who was the plaintiff ``Mary Doe'' in Doe v. Bolton.

Finally, I hope that Ambassador Tan's work as a law professor in courses such as bioethics, international human rights, and constitutional law will inspire a new generation to take up the legal fight to protect the sanctity of life.

It is an honor to recognize Ambassador Morse Tan for his uncompromising work to defend the right of the unborn babies in courts and to bring justice and accountability for perpetrators of forced abortions around the world.

Madam President, I rise to recognize Congresswoman Ann Wagner, who represents the Second Congressional District of Missouri in the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout her tenure in the House; Representative Wagner has remained an outspoken champion for life. Representative Wagner has worked to protect unborn life, through her vocal support of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and so many other pieces of pro-life legisltaion. Additionally, she has helped lead the charge to prevent taxpayer funding of abortion on- demand.

This public servant's efforts to protect vulnerable children from sexual exploitation and trafficking are particularly inspirational. She has fought hard for legislation that would increase the penalties for criminals who profit from sexual exploitation of innocent children.

Representative Wagner's commitment to children both inside and outside the womb is commendable. I know I take inspiration from her years of work on behalf of vulnerable children. Therefore, I offer my praise and gratitude for that work as the U.S. Supreme Court takes up Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, a case that could significantly change the landscape in terms of protecting young lives.

Madam President, with the U.S. Supreme Court set to consider Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization in oral arguments on December 1, 2021, I am taking time to recognize individuals whose dedication to the pro-life cause has led us to this point. In this case, I pay tribute to Mr. John D. Beckett from Elyria, OH. His activities have been intertwined with championing pro-life and religious freedom.

Mr. Beckett graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1960, after which he initially worked as an engineer in the aerospace industry. In 1963, he joined his father's small manufacturing business, R.W. Beckett Corporation, and 2 years later became president following his father's death. Under Mr. Beckett's leadership, this small company grew over time to become a worldwide leader in producing engineered components for residential and commercial heating. With its affiliates, the company employs nearly 1,000 people.

In addition to his business endeavors, Mr. Beckett has long been active in both church and community-related activities. This is where he has established himself as a champion of the pro-life movement.

In 1973, Mr. Beckett became a founding member of the Intercessors for America, a national prayer organization, and he continues to serve on the board today. The Intercessors for America has helped lead grassroots efforts for people of faith to unite in prayer for the pro- life movement and for the unborn. In addition, he also became a founding board member of King's College in New York City, a Christian university, and he also serves on the board of Cru--Campus Crusade for Christ International. Alongside

these community activities, Mr. Beckett also found time to become a published author, writing two books about faith in the workplace.

For these business and community activities, Mr. Beckett has received numerous accolades. He received an honorary doctor of law degree from both Spring Arbor University in 2002 and also from King's College in 2008. He was also named Christian Businessman of the Year by the Christian Broadcasting Network in 1999 and the Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 2003.

Today, he resides in Elyria, OH, with his wife, Wendy, to whom he has been married since 1961.

I am thankful to John D. Beckett for his support of many nonprofit organizations that defend the rights of the unborn and religious freedom. His work in helping establish the Intercessors for America has led to untold numbers of prayers being raised for the pro-life movement. I am pleased to honor his work through that organization as well as his lifetime of service to so many worthy causes.

Madam President, I am honored to pay tribute to former Governor Phil Bryant of Mississippi. While there are many things for which the Governor deserves praise, today I specifically want to speak about Governor Bryant's stalwart work during his term of office from 2012-2020 to protect and defend the most vulnerable of our society: unborn children.

While running for office, Phil Bryant promised Mississippians that he would work tirelessly as Governor to protect the rights of the unborn. He fulfilled that promise. Throughout two terms in office, Governor Bryant was a driving force behind legislative efforts to protect life in Mississippi.

In April 2012, Governor Bryant signed Mississippi House Bill 1390. This bill required abortion practitioners to be certified as obstetrician-gynecologists and to maintain admitting privileges at a local hospital. Through these requirements, this legislation sought to strengthen abortion regulations and ensure that women receive quality care for any complications following an abortion.

In April 2014, Governor Bryant signed Mississippi House Bill 1400, banning abortions performed after 20 weeks. This legislation cited a plethora of medical evidence, showing that a baby can feel pain at this stage, and that pregnant women are at increased health risks, even death, when undergoing later-term abortion procedures.

Additionally, Governor Bryant signed into law the Unborn Child Protection from Dismemberment Abortion Act in 2016, banning dismemberment abortions or those involving the practice known as D&E or ``dilation and evacuation.'' Dismemberment is the most prevalent method of second trimester abortion, accounting for 96 percent of all second trimester abortions. With the enactment of this law, Governor Bryant not only banned these violent dismemberment procedures from taking place in the Mississippi, he also prohibited the illegal trafficking of the bodies of aborted babies in Mississippi.

Governor Bryant did not stop there and continued working to keep his promise to make Mississippi ``the safest place in America'' for unborn babies. In 2018, he signed the Gestational Age Act, which banned abortions after 15 weeks in most cases. It is this law being challenged at the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health.

Throughout all of these laws, Governor Bryant maintained steadfast courage and held tightly to his promise to the people of Mississippi to fight continuously to protect the unborn. I love what he once said when groups threatened legal action against our State's pro-life legislation. He said, ``We will all answer to the good Lord one day. I will say in this instance, `I fought for the lives of innocent babies, even under threat of legal action.' ''

That is indeed true. When his time comes, Governor Bryant can stand tall before the Lord, having fought the good fight to protect the unborn. And indeed, when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in the Dobbs case on December 1, Governor Bryant can smile in the knowledge that his work was not in vain.

For all these reasons, I call attention to Governor Phil Bryant. He deserves laudable recognition for his 8-year fight to protect and defend the right to life for the unborn babies in the womb, reflecting the character and values of the people of our State, Mississippi.

Madam President, it is an honor to pay tribute to Representative Becky Currie, a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, who authored the Gestational Age Act. It is this State law that underlies the U.S. Supreme Court's consideration of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization this term.

When the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on Dobbs on December 1, 2021, it will hear a defense of the pro-life cause generating from the work of Becky Currie, my friend and my representative. In the Mississippi House, she represents district 92, which covers my hometown of Brookhaven.

Becky's forethought in introducing this bill and shepherding it through the State legislature has led us to the point where the Supreme Court is considering a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade. By prohibiting most abortions after 15 weeks, the Gestational Age Act presents directly the question of whether Roe's viability standard remains good law.

Becky's background as a nurse, her tenacious personality, and her heart for the unborn made her the perfect person to sponsor this important bill. She knows how to fight and isn't afraid of criticism. Her stubborn persistence in promoting policies to protect the unborn has made Mississippi a safer place for women and their babies. Through the Supreme Court's consideration of her bill, Becky Currie has the potential to do that for our entire Nation.

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments in the Dobbs case, we are all indebted to Representative Currie's her courage and tenacity in sponsoring the Gestational Age Act. Praise God for bringing us this far. I also pray that He will continue to work through Representative Currie, using her law to overrule Roe v. Wade and make our Nation a safer place for the unborn and their mothers.

Madam President, I rise to pay tribute to Pastor Mark Lee Dickson of Longview, TX, who founded the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative in 2019. This innovative organization works to encourage cities and towns to adopt ordinances declaring themselves as Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn.

Under Pastor Dickson's leadership, this grassroots Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn movement has saved many babies throughout the Nation in 41 towns and cities that have adopted these ordinances.

This is not the only way that Pastor Dickson has dedicated himself to championing the pro-life movement. He also serves as the director of Grassroots for Right to Life of East Texas and as the senior pastor of Sovereign Love Church in Longview.

Across our Nation, pro-life citizens of all ages and backgrounds represent the backbone of the grassroots movement to protect the unborn. Individuals like Pastor Dickson who take it on themselves to help promote life and prevent abortion in their own communities drive the passion in this movement.

The Pastor Dickson and millions of other Americans have kept this issue salient for our political discourse and has led us to the place where the U.S. Supreme Court will be reconsidering its misguided abortion jurisprudence established by Roe v. Wade when it takes up a challenge to a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks gestation. In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the stage is set for the potential overturning of Roe and returning the issue of abortion to the States.

I pray for Pastor Dickson and that God would raise up more like him. Pastor Dickson's example shows that the courage of one person can make a difference.

Madam President, I rise to pay tribute to Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch.

My State has much to be proud of in Attorney General Fitch as the first Republican to hold this office in almost 150 years and as Mississippi's first female attorney general ever.

Specifically today, I rise to honor her for her unwavering fight to defend Mississippi's pro-life laws. Attorney General Fitch is representing the State of Mississippi in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization at the U.S. Supreme Court this term. This case is the most anticipated abortion case to reach the Court since Casey v. Planned Parenthood in 1992, nearly 30 years ago.

In the Dobbs case, Attorney General Fitch is defending a challenge to Mississippi House bill 1510, the Gestational Age Act Enacted in 2018, this legislation bans most abortions after 15 weeks gestation. By consistently defending this law all the way up to the Supreme Court, Attorney General Fitch has set the stage for the Court to consider overturning Roe v. Wade and return the issue of abortion to the States.

The Dobbs case presents the strongest challenge to Roe in our lifetime. It is encouraging that the Supreme Court, with its first conservative majority in many years, will hear arguments on the merits of this Mississippi law. I am so proud that our female Mississippi Attorney General will be in the courtroom to defend our law in this case.

In arguing for the Court to reconsider Roe in the State's brief in the case, Attorney General Fitch said, ``There are those who would like to believe that Roe v. Wade settled the issue of abortion once and for all. But all it did was establish a special-rules regime for abortion jurisprudence that has left these cases out of step with other Court decisions and neutral principles of law applied by the Court. As a result, state legislatures, and the people they represent, have lacked clarity in passing laws to protect legitimate public interests, and artificial guideposts have stunted important public debate on how we, as a society, care for the dignity of women and their children.''

I wholeheartedly agree. The unlimited-abortion regime created by the Roe decision was wrong when it was handed down, and it is wrong now. It is bad for the unborn, and it is bad for women. I hope the Supreme Court recognizes that when it hears oral arguments in the Dobbs case on December 1.

I am confident Attorney General Fitch will make our State proud by steadfastly defending Mississippi's law to protect unborn. Mississippians are proud to have this champion for life representing our State in this landmark case. I am praying for General Fitch and for her staff as they prepare to continue the fight to defend life before the highest court in the land.

Mr. President, I also want to wish Woody a happy birthday as well.

I just join my colleagues today to commemorate and honor some of the Nation's most admirable warfighters in the Second World War, and I so appreciate my colleagues bringing their personal stories to the floor today. This is something that all Americans should cherish--the stories of these heroes. We have very few of these brave heroes still among us today, and it is so important that they receive every ounce of recognition that we can give them for their selflessness and extraordinary heroism.

I am pleased to be a cosponsor of Senator Manchin's legislation to provide a merited celebration and commemoration of the last living World War II Medal of Honor recipient, Woody Williams, who recently celebrated his 98th birthday.

Medal of Honor recipients like Mr. Williams demonstrated a courageous and noble commitment to our Nation, and their exemplary actions deserve all the praise that we can give them.

I am proud to represent a State that has several World War II Medal of Honor recipients of its own, in Mississippi: Van Thomas Barfoot of Edinburg, Robert T. Henry of Greenville, James Daniel Slaton of Gulfport, Louis Hugh Wilson of Brandon, and Jack Harold Lucas of Hattiesburg, whom I still remain friends with his family today.

From Germany to Japan, these men served our Nation without hesitation in the height of the Second World War, defending our Nation, our allies, and the very principles of freedom. It fills my heart with great pride to call these late veterans my fellow Mississippians. The tributes we offer today for Mr. Williams in truth stand for our deep appreciation for all of those who fought in World War II.

I thank my colleagues for their great work on this important recognition and the opportunity to be a part of this.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I yield the floor.