On January 22, our nation marked the somber 53rd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, a decision that resulted in the loss of millions of innocent lives to abortion. As sad as it is to pause and reflect on all the lives lost, there is also optimism as our country has turned to a new chapter in our work to ensure all of God’s creations have the right to life, and that their lives have meaning. It’s a belief rooted in faith, family, and a deep respect for human dignity.

Being pro-life also means being pro-family. It means supporting mothers, strengthening families, and ensuring that children — born and unborn — are valued and protected. That principle has guided my work in Congress, and it continues to shape how I fight for the values of Southeast and South-Central Missourians.

Last year, I was so proud to be one of the authors of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, the landmark legislation we passed to deliver on President Trump’s priorities. In addition to Cutting Taxes for Working Families, the legislation delivered the biggest pro-life victory in a generation by defunding Planned Parenthood, an organization whose mission has been to expand abortion services. President Trump signed this legislation into law on July 4.

In Missouri, so many families’ lives have been positively impacted by crisis pregnancy centers, and I was deeply troubled when the Biden administration proposed restricting funding from going to crisis pregnancy centers, simply because they do not oUer abortion. This week, I was gratified to lead the House debate on the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act, a bill my Ways and Means Committee marked up in favor of legislation that would permanently protect these centers from being defunded by pro-abortion advocates.

I am also a proud co-sponsor of the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which ensures that babies who survive an attempted abortion receive the same standard of medical care as any other child born alive. This legislation is about basic humanity and accountability, and it reflects a broad consensus that every child deserves care and protection.

I remain committed to standing up for life and defending the values of Missourians. I am honored to have received national recognition for my consistent pro-life record, including an A+ rating from the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America Scorecard and a 100% rating from the National Right to Life scorecard. I take seriously the responsibility of fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, and I will always work to protect life and lift up families.