All human life is a gift from our
Creator that is sacred, unique, and
worthy of protection. On National
Sanctity of Human Life Day, our
country recognizes that each person,
including every person waiting to be
born, has a special place and
purpose in this world. We also
underscore our dedication to heeding
this message of conscience by
speaking up for the weak and
voiceless among us.
The most basic duty of government
is to protect the life of the
innocent. My Administration has been
committed to building a culture of
life by vigorously promoting
adoption and parental notification
laws, opposing Federal funding for
abortions overseas, encouraging teen
abstinence, and funding crisis
pregnancy programs. In 2002, I was
honored to sign into law the
Born-Alive Infants Protection Act,
which extends legal protection to
children who survive an abortion
attempt. I signed legislation in
2003 to ban the cruel practice of
partial-birth abortion, and that law
represents our commitment to
building a culture of life in
America. Also, I was proud to sign
the Unborn Victims of Violence Act
of 2004, which allows authorities to
charge a person who causes death or
injury to a child in the womb with a
separate offense in addition to any
charges relating to the mother.
America is a caring Nation, and
our values should guide us as we
harness the gifts of science. In our
zeal for new treatments and cures,
we must never abandon our
fundamental morals. We can achieve
the great breakthroughs we all seek
with reverence for the gift of life.
The sanctity of life is written
in the hearts of all men and women.
On this day and throughout the year,
we aspire to build a society in
which every child is welcome in life
and protected in law. We also
encourage more of our fellow
Americans to join our just and noble
cause. History tells us that with a
cause rooted in our deepest
principles and appealing to the best
instincts of our citizens, we will
prevail.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W.
BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the
authority vested in me by the
Constitution and laws of the United
States, do hereby proclaim January
18, 2009, as National Sanctity of
Human Life Day. I call upon all
Americans to recognize this day with
appropriate ceremonies and to
underscore our commitment to
respecting and protecting the life
and dignity of every human being.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have
hereunto set my hand this fifteenth
day of January, in the year of our
Lord two thousand nine, and of the
Independence of the United States of
America the two hundred and
thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH
