The following is adapted from House Speaker Paul Ryan’s remarks at the March for Life.
Can we just thank God for giving us a pro-life president back in the White House? What a crowd. This is so exciting. It is so exciting to see so many young people here today. Your energy is so infectious.
You know, I’ve been participating in the March for Life for years. One thing that has always struck me—and there’s one thing that strikes me again right now—is the vigor and the enthusiasm of the pro-life movement.
Looking out on this crowd, I can see there are people here of all ages, from all walks of life, but the young people here is what is so inspiring because it tells me this is a movement that is on the rise.
And do you know why the pro-life movement is on the rise? Because truth is on our side. Life begins at conception.
Do you know why the pro-life movement is on the rise? Because science is on our side. Just look at the ultrasounds that have shown us more about the pre-born child than ever before. How they develop, how they react, how they feel pain.
Most importantly, the pro-life movement is on the rise because we have love on our side. We believe every person is worthy of love and dignity. That is why the pro-life movement is on the rise.
You know, one thing that gets lost in all of the controversy is how compassionate the pro-life really movement is. This is what is lost by all those detractors out there.
I am so proud of the work this movement has done to help women, especially women who have gone through the pain of abortion. This movement helps them find healing and acceptance.
I am so proud of this movement and how it supports single mothers who are struggling to raise their children. How it gives them resources through thousands of phenomenal crisis pregnancy centers around the country. This is the face of the pro-life movement.
We’re so proud of the movement and what it’s doing to reach out to past and present abortion workers—to help those with new perspectives find new jobs and a fresh start.
This is true compassion. This is real love. That’s what this movement is about—and it’s why the March for Life is such a joyful march. Anyone who is out here today can feel how much joy there is in this crowd. Anyone watching on TV can see it.
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People come from all over the country. You march with your churches, your friends, your neighbors. You march with joy and hope, not with anger or hate. You don’t see that on the other side, do you?
You know what is so exciting and so blessed here is I get to stand up here with these phenomenal pro-life stalwarts in Congress. Let’s hear it for these men and women in Congress.
This is the face of the pro-life movement in America. This is the face of the pro-life movement in Congress.
We strive to make our time in Congress a March for Life in itself. We strive to fight for the unborn, to pass important pro-life legislation through Congress, to work with the Trump administration to pass pro-life policies and laws.
And we’re making a lot of progress.
In the House, we passed legislation defunding Planned Parenthood.
In the House, we passed the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which restricts abortions after 20 weeks.
We passed the Conscience Protection Act, which ensures no one is forced to perform an abortion against his or her will. Religious freedom is the first amendment. It is the first protection in our bill of rights.
And just a few minutes ago, today, we passed the Born-Alive Survivors Protection Act. It protects the life of those babies who suffer from failed abortions.
But most importantly, like the March for Life, we are striving to do this without judgment in our hearts—but with compassion and with love for all of the victims.
I want to thank you. I want to thank you for being here, for taking the time, for the prayers, for the joy, and for the compassion, and for the love you demonstrate here at this march. This is why the pro-life movement is on its rise.
Remember, these are our most powerful tools against the pains of abortion. This is the pro-life movement. This is one that we will win this day. Thank you and God bless you, and tell everybody, come back next year and bring three friends.
