Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- Congressman Chris Smith, who has led the pro-life battles in the House of Representatives for decades, will receive the Wilberforce Leadership Award on Thursday from Students for Life of America. The award will be presented at SFLA's third annual Summer Social in Washington.“Congressman Chris Smith has been a key leader within the pro-life movement and has lead many efforts to protect the unborn across the country," SFLA director Kristan Hawkins told LifeNews.com on Monday.
"It is because of his leadership that SFLA is proud to present Congressman Smith with the first Wilberforce Leadership Award," she said.
“I can think of no one more deserving of the award than Smith. He is a true champion for Life in Congress. Smith was a tirelessly leader in the fight against abortion funding in President Obama’s health care plan," she added.
William Wilberforce was a member of the British Parliament who lead the abolition movement in Britain. Wilberforce worked for 26 years in Parliament to abolish the slave trade and finally passed the Slave Trade Act in 1807, abolishing slave trade within the British Empire.
Students for Life of America chose to honor a national leader, like William Wilberforce, who has lead efforts to abolish abortion, which it considers the slave trade of the 21st century, in the United States.
Smith will also be introducing legislation on Thursday entitled the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.” http://www.lifenews.com/nat6565.html
The legislation would ensure no federal tax dollars would be used for abortion.
According to a recent GAO report, Planned Parenthood receives over $300 million a year in taxpayer funds. This act would not only defund abortion organizations but would also make the Hyde and Helms amendments, and other pro-life protections that must be renewed annually, permanent law.
The Students for Life Summer Social will be held on Thursday, July 29th, in the Hyde Park Courtyard at SFLA’s Arlington, Virginia headquarters.
Related web sites:
SFLA Summer Social - http://www.sflasummersocial.com
Students for Life - http://www.studentsforlife.org