WASHINGTON, DC--Today, U.S. Reps. Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Dan Lipinski (IL-03) announced that they will serve as Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-life Caucus in the 112th Congress.

"Protection of unborn children must be a legislative priority in the 112th Congress and I look forward to leading this bipartisan coalition of pro-life Members with Chris Smith as we continue our work to protect innocent human life," said Lipinski, a long time pro-life leader in the House who is the prime cosponsor of H.R. 5939, the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act," H.R. 877, the "Patients First Act," and H.R. 5111, the "Protect Life Act."

"Dan Lipinski and I have--and will continue to--work hard together to provide needed protection for unborn children and their mothers," said Smith, the Republican Co-Chair of the Pro-life Caucus since 1982. "We have an aggressively pro-life legislative agenda for the new Congress which includes rolling back federal funding for abortion and the abortion industry starting with H.R. 5939 the 'No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,' which Dan and I introduced in August of 2010, and H.R. 5111, the 'Protect Life Act,' which Dan introduced with Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA-16)."

The Pro-life Caucus "is a bipartisan organization of House Members which provides information to Members of Congress on legislation and issues related to pro-life concerns. We understand that the taking of innocent human life must be stopped and that all persons–regardless of age, health, sex, race, stage of development or condition of dependence–must be guaranteed their full constitutional safe guards" (from the Pro-life Caucus Statement of Purpose).