Lafayette Reporter

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action and Federal Rights, defended pro-life states during a hearing held by Democrats advocating for expanded abortion access.

Kennedy stated, "For the first time in decades, pro-abortion and anti-abortion Americans are now able to meet on equal terms, without judicial interference, to determine the laws as they see them being best for them, governing the issue of abortion. No longer will Americans have to live under a court-imposed definition. The American people get to decide. Now, that has upset some of my colleagues here in Washington."

He referenced an incident involving Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), saying, "It was and is the genesis of a very organized effort that you see playing out today to undermine [the] United States Supreme Court as an institution. I remember it like it was yesterday... My colleague and my friend, Senator Schumer, stood on the steps of the United States Supreme Court. And this is what he said. I quote, ‘I want to tell you, Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh... You have released the whirlwind... and you will pay the price. You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.’"

Kennedy criticized S.701—the Women's Health Protection Act—stating: "This would allow the right to terminate a pregnancy after viability—basically terminate a pregnancy at any time, for any reason. The day before a baby is born, a mother could decide to terminate that pregnancy for whatever reason. She doesn't have to give a reason. Maybe she’s changed her mind about having a baby. Maybe she’s not happy with the baby’s gender. But it would be legal."

He added: "I think every one of my Democratic colleagues on the Judiciary Committee has co-sponsored that legislation. I respectfully disagree with them."

Kennedy also addressed his concerns about late-term abortions: "Some of my colleagues want to tell the American people from on high exactly what the rules ought to be about abortion in America—and they're so angry at the United States Supreme Court for returning this issue to the American people that they're willing to destroy that court."

During his remarks, Kennedy questioned Democratic witnesses who claimed late-term abortions are rare but refused to agree on limits for such procedures.