In 2012, Governor Bobby Jindal signed into law a bill protecting babies from abortion at 20-weeks fetal age based on the scientific fact that they can feel pain.

Currently, eleven other states and the House of Representatives have passed this same law protecting pain-capable babies.  Now, S. 1670, the U.S. Senate version of the “The Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act”, was introduced in the U.S Senate on November 7th.

Although this news is very encouraging, it is bothersome that our own  Senator Mary Landrieu hasn’t stepped out in support of this legislation. With Louisiana being ranked the most pro-life state in the nation, I find this to be unacceptable.

According to the November 8^th issue of the Baton Rouge Advocate after our #TheyFeelPain press conferences, Sen. Mary Landrieu said the following concerning fetal pain legislation:

“Life is precious, and I believe a gift from God. But every birth involves at least two lives: the life of the unborn child and the life of the mother. I want to support a bill that protects and values both. I will review Sen. Graham’s legislation and continue to be open to views of constituents and medical experts to see if this bill, or something similar, could achieve both of these goals.”

While I am happy that Sen. Landrieu believes life is precious and a gift from God, after reviewing her voting record in the U.S. Senate, I am puzzled by her statement.

Since 1997, Sen. Landrieu has cast 17 out of 62 votes pro-life in the U.S. Senate, giving her a 27% pro-life voting record.  If you believe that life is precious, why would your voting record show the opposite?

Despite numerous requests from Louisiana Right to Life, Sen. Landrieu has yet to co-sponsor the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. At the very least, we would hope that a Senator from our pro-life state would oppose dismembering fully-formed babies in the last four months of pregnancy, especially if they can feel it.

To clear things up, I think it would be helpful if I could sit down with Sen. Landrieu to discuss this common-sense legislation.

If I could, I would ask her, “Does it not concern you that when a woman goes in for an abortion at 20 weeks, her baby already has fingernails, can swallow and can feel pain?”

If I could, I would ask her, “If you believe that all life, born and unborn, is a gift from God, why are you hesitant to co-sponsor a bill that would protect babies from the grim reality of late abortion?

If I could, I would remind her that the majority of Americans support legislation that protects babies in the last four months of pregnancy.

But most of all, if I could, I would like to meet with Sen. Landrieu because she needs to be reminded that many of the babies in question here can live outside the womb. I should know.  I was one of them.

If she met with me, I would tell Sen. Landrieu my story of survival after being delivered by an abortionist at 24-weeks-old.  She needs to see what a once 24 week-old, barely breathing, and destined to die baby looks like almost 24 years later. I would tell her personally why I think it is important that we protect babies who feel pain.

Senator Landrieu, THIS IS the legislation we need to protect babies that can feel pain and possibly live outside the womb.  Louisiana citizens are counting on you to co-sponsor and actively work for the passage of this common-sense legislation.