Rep. Mike Kelly statement on U.S. Supreme Court's abortion ruling

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which allows states to prohibit abortion in the United States.

"Today's ruling is a major victory for the pro-life movement, but our work has only begun," Kelly said. "All little boys and little girls deserve a chance at life, and this ruling ensures they will get that chance. The right to life is not just for some of us. It is for all of us.

"I want to speak directly to those who have had abortions and struggle with their decision: you should know that forgiveness and grace – for yourself and others – will help heal those emotional wounds. As we move forward, I encourage everyone to remember a core tenet of this country that still holds true today: each of us has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

BACKGROUND

In 1973, Roe v. Wade guaranteed federal constitutional protections of abortion rights. Over the last 50 years, more than 63 million abortions have taken place in the United States. During his service in Congress, Rep. Kelly has been a staunch advocate of the pro-life movement and protecting the unborn.

In 2021, Kelly introduced the Heartbeat Protection Act, which prohibits abortions when an unborn child's heartbeat is detected. The Heartbeat Protection Act, the leading pro-life legislation with more than 100 co-sponsors, is supported by top conservative organizations including Heritage Action, the Susan B. Anthony List, the Family Research Council, and the Republican Study Committee, among others.

Since being elected to Congress, Kelly, a father of four and grandfather of ten, has worked to defend life by:

• Protecting the religious freedom of pro-life individuals and organization.
• Opposing taxpayer funding of abortion
• Opposing race and gender based abortions
• Opposing abortion funding in foreign aid
• Opposing abortion of unborn children who can feel pain

Kelly has also worked to strengthen American families by making adoption more affordable, including his Child Welfare Inclusion Act of 2021 and by co-sponsoring the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2021, among other bills.