Pointing to video of a ten-week baby kicking in the womb, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—Co-Chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus—today called on members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to "recognize that protecting life is at the core of the debate over the Mexico City Policy."

    “Human life begins at the moment of conception. Every second thereafter is simply a stage of development. By day 22 after fertilization the heart is beating and brain waves can be detected at 44 days. By week five tiny hands and feet begin to develop and by week 7 the baby is already kicking and swimming in the womb,” Smith said during his opening statement at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. (Access Smith's entire opening statement here.)

    As Smith—a senior Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee—made his remarks at the start of the hearing, an ultrasound video of a 10-week old baby played over hearing room’s large-screen televisions.

    “Look at the unborn child in the video at 10 weeks, moving, turning, and stretching. We now know that in the second trimester babies have the capacity to feel pain,” Smith said. 

    Democrats called the hearing today in continuation of their efforts to gut and overturn the Mexico City Policy, which prohibits U.S. taxpayer funding from going to non-governmental organizations that perform or promote abortion abroad as a method of family planning.

    Smith said the Mexico City Policy allows the U.S. to provide family planning assistance without subsidizing the “grisly business of abortion.”

    “Abortion is violence against children, Mr. Chairman. It is extreme child abuse. It is cruelty to children,” Smith said during his opening statement.

    Smith continued, “Future generations will indeed wonder why we didn’t get it—unborn babies even if they are ‘unwanted’ have dignity, inherent value and infinite worth. And because they are so vulnerable, governments must protect their human rights.”

    “Mr. Chairman, today, scores of countries throughout the world are literally under siege in a well-coordinated, exceedingly well-funded campaign to overturn the laws and policies of sovereign nations that protect women and children from the violence of abortion on demand, putting women and children at risk—and now they want us, the American taxpayer—to facilitate, enable and legitimize their deadly activities,” Smith said.

    Smith said that the U.S. should not take a step backwards and promote abortion abroad as a means of birth control. Instead, U.S. foreign policy toward family planning should reflect the consensus of most Americans and support both mother and child.

    “The challenge we must meet is to always at all times affirm, care for and tangibly assist both the mother and the unborn child,” Smith said.

    Smith outlined ways to achieve the goal of supporting and affirming both mother and child. They include increasing access to maternal and prenatal care; ensuring access to safe blood and better nutrition; expanding essential obstetrical services including skilled birth attendants; and improving transportation capabilities for emergency care to significantly reduce maternal mortality and morbidity—including obstetric fistula.

    “Expanding these measures will reduce deaths and injury to both mothers and children,” he said.

    Smith noted that since the Mexico City Policy was reinstated in 2001, family planning funding—including that for contraceptives—has dramatically risen. For example, family planning funding for DR Congo has gone up by 800% and in Pakistan it has gone up to 1079%.

    Smith concluded his remarks by saying, “No one is expendable. No one’s life is cheap. The humane way forward is to devise and implement policies that respect, protect, assist and defend both women and their babies from all threats, including abortion.”