Codify ‘Roe,’ Pass ‘Equality Act,’ President Biden Urges Congress in State of the Union Speech
President Joe Biden delivered his second annual State of the Union speech on Tuesday evening to a joint session of Congress. The 73-minute address touched on typical themes such as unemployment, inflation, taxes, the war in Ukraine, manufacturing, the nation’s infrastructure, drug prices, the war on drugs, education, energy, violent crime, immigration and other issues.
While all of those issues are of importance to Christians and their families, and we salute a sincere approach to them, he, unfortunately, also asked Congress to pass two legislative initiatives sure to raise eyebrows and opposition: (1) codify Roe v. Wade into federal law; and (2) pass the mis-named “Equality Act.”
He also expounded on familiar state of the union themes such as unity and optimism for the future.
“We must be the nation we have always been at our best. Optimistic. Hopeful. Forward-looking. A nation that embraces, light over darkness, hope over fear, unity over division. Stability over chaos,” Biden said at one point in the speech.
On abortion, Biden called for the codification of Roe v. Wade, which was overturned last June by the U.S. Supreme Court, into federal law.
“Here in the people’s House, it’s our duty to protect all the people’s rights and freedoms,” the president said. “Congress must restore the right the Supreme Court took away last year and codify Roe v. Wade to protect every woman’s constitutional right to choose.
“The Vice President and I are doing everything we can to protect access to reproductive health care and safeguard patient privacy. But already, more than a dozen states are enforcing extreme abortion bans. Make no mistake; if Congress passes a national abortion ban, I will veto it.
Biden also called on Congress to pass the deceptively titled “Equality Act.”
“Let’s also pass the bipartisan Equality Act to ensure LGBTQ Americans, especially transgender young people, can live with safety and dignity,” he said.
However, as the Daily Citizen has reported, the Equality Act, which adds sexual orientation, gender identity and abortion to the 1964 Civil Rights Act is destructive of religious freedom while promoting the further killing of preborn babies.
The pro-abortion atmosphere in the joint session was evident from the cheers and applause that went up from half the chamber when the president mentioned these legislative initiatives. There were even some pro-abortion members of Congress present who proudly sported lapel buttons consisting of the word “ABORTION” with the first “O” replaced by a heart.
I’m wearing my abortion pin from @PPFA to tonight’s State of the Union address. Abortion is essential healthcare and we need to codify this right. pic.twitter.com/ZfNj5OEZcj
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) February 8, 2023
I say the word, I wear the word.
Abortion care is health care.
Abortion care saves lives. pic.twitter.com/rGO1kcIDBo
— Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (@RepDean) February 7, 2023
As we read in Proverbs 21:1, we pray that the Lord will change the hearts of the president and all our leaders and channel them toward preborn babies struggling for freedom to take their first breath.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the newly elected governor of Arkansas, delivered the Republican response following the president’s speech from her office in Little Rock. The governor criticized the president’s take on the last couple years.
“Being a mom to three young children taught me not to believe every story I hear,” the governor began. “So forgive me for not believing much of anything I heard tonight from President Biden. From out-of-control inflation and violent crime to the dangerous border crisis and threat from China, Biden and the Democrats have failed you. They know it. And you know it.”
The 40-year-old governor delivered some memorable lines, none better than when she explained the purpose of government.
“Tonight, let us reaffirm our commitment to a timeless American idea: that government exists not to rule the people, but to serve the people.”
After recounting a gripping story of a surprise Christmas visit in 2018 with then-President Trump to visit our troops serving in Iraq, she heralded the greatness of America, then spoke about our country’s dependence on Almighty God.
“We know not what the future holds, but we know who holds the future in His hands,” Huckabee Sanders said. “And with God as our witness, we will show the world that America is still the place where freedom reigns and liberty will never die.”
Photo from Shutterstock.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bruce Hausknecht, J.D., is an attorney who serves as Focus on the Family’s judicial analyst. He is responsible for research and analysis of legal and judicial issues related to Christians and the institution of the family, including First Amendment freedom of religion and free speech issues, judicial activism, marriage, homosexuality and pro-life matters. He also tracks legislation and laws affecting these issues. Prior to joining Focus in 2004, Hausknecht practiced law for 17 years in construction litigation and as an associate general counsel for a large ministry in Virginia. He was also an associate pastor at a church in Colorado Springs for seven years, primarily in worship music ministry. Hausknecht has provided legal analysis and commentary for top media outlets including CNN, ABC News, NBC News, CBS Radio, The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe and BBC radio. He’s also a regular contributor to The Daily Citizen. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. Hausknecht has been married since 1981 and has three adult children, as well as three adorable grandkids. In his free time, Hausknecht loves getting creative with his camera and capturing stunning photographs of his adopted state of Colorado.