Brownback and Kennedy Team Up to Support Mothers of Disabled Children

LifeSiteNews.com ^ | July 24, 2007 | Elizabeth O'Brien

[monomaniac]

Brownback and Kennedy Team Up to Support Mothers of Disabled Children

By Elizabeth O'Brien

WASHINGTON, DC, July 24, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On Wednesday Senators Sam Brownback and Edward Kennedy reintroduced the Pre-natally and Post-natally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act (PPDCAA), which proposes to offer information and services for expectant and young mothers of handicapped children.

According to a recent press release from Brownback's office, the PPDCAA, which is an amendment to the Public Health Service Act, would ensure that care is offered not only during the woman's pregnancy, but throughout the year following the child's birth as well.

The PPDCAA also states that resources and services for expectant mothers of disabled babies include, "a resource telephone hotline and Internet website; a clearinghouse of scientific information, clinical course, life expectancy, development potential, and quality of life relating to Down syndrome or other pre-natally diagnosed conditions; the establishment of national and local peer-support programs."

In addition, the act proposes the establishment of registries of families that are willing to adopt handicapped newborns. It also offers, "links to adoption agencies willing to place babies with Down syndrome or other prenatally diagnosed conditions, with families willing to adopt. It also seeks to provide "awareness and education programs for health care providers who provide the results of prenatal tests for Down syndrome or other prenatally diagnosed conditions."

Conservative Republican Senator and presidential candidate Brownback has called himself "proudly" and "unequivocally" pro-life. Referring to the PPDCAA, he stated, "We as a society must offer as much protection as we can to 'the least of these.'" He continued, "When a mother receives the news that her unborn child may be born with a disability, she should be supplied with current and reliable information about the many options available for caring for children with disabilities."

In an adapted excerpt from a book by Brownback, entitled "From Power to Purpose: A Remarkable Journey of Faith and Compassion", the Senator stated that the PPDCAA, "provides that any family given a diagnosis of Down syndrome or any other condition would be connected with the necessary support structure. The bill ensures that each family would get sound and balanced information, connection to support services and information about the possibility of adoption so families would not be misled and children could be saved." According to Brownback, 80 to 90% of babies that are diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted.

Staunchly pro-abortion Senator Ted Kennedy commented on the Act in the same press release, saying, "One of the hardest moments in the life of an expectant mother is when she receives news that she is going to have a child with special needs." He continued, "Access to the best support and information about the condition, and the quality of life for a child born with that condition, can make all the difference to a woman trying to make an informed and difficult decision. I believe this kind of support is a vital element to strengthening a true culture of life in America."

The document states that pregnant women who undergo prenatal screening should be able to have "nondirective counseling" about their child's condition and that "informed consent" is a "critical component" of all genetic testing. Nevertheless, Kennedy's ambiguous statement regarding the type of "difficult decision" to be made by a mother expecting a physically or mentally challenged child raises concerns for pro-life advocates, in light of the Senator's vehemently pro-abortion track record.

Calls to Senator Kennedy's office were not returned by press time.

Read related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Interview with U.S. Presidential Candidate Sam Brownback: Unequivocally Pro-Life, Passionately Pro-Family

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jan/07012601.html

Read the full text of the PPDCAA:

http://www.theorator.com/bills109/s609.html

Read Brownback Press Release

http://brownback.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=279251

Sam Brownback: Don't Pressure Parents to Abort Disabled Babies:

http://www.kansas.com/205/story/122372.html

[indcons]

Looks like Brownback can’t stay away from Kennedy. First, it was the amnesty bill and now this. Kennedy isn’t championing this latest bit of socialism for pro-life reasons...LOL.

[johnny7]

What’a tool...

[q_an_a]

This shows how the left peels off people for GOOD causes and then using them for something else when they need them.

[basil]

The sad thing is that we have become so innured to government being involved in every aspect of our lives that no one questions why it is the governments' duty to take care of "mothers of disabled children".

All we want to discuss is which politicians are doing what with which other politician.

I think it's too late to ever turn the tide back toward what was intended by the founders.

[advance_copy]

If Sam Brownback thinks that these federal funds are going to be used for anything other than trying to talk a mother into aborting her baby, he is kidding himself.

NOTE TO REPUBLICANS: Stop “teaming up” with Ted Kennedy!

[Mrs.Z]

“If Sam Brownback thinks that these federal funds are going to be used for anything other than trying to talk a mother into aborting her baby, he is kidding himself”

Exactly.

Kennedy does not involve himself in any legislation over which he has no control.

Brownback should stay away or get ready to wipe the stuff off that flies from Teddy.

[twonie]

Did Brownback inadvertently check his entire brain on a recent flight and Southwest lost it? Seems like it. Is this what happens when there is NO LEADERSHIP in Congress?

[penowa]

"Looks like Brownback can’t stay away from Kennedy."

Maybe he thinks this will make him as popular as our current President has made himself by teaming up with the "Swimmer." Just makes me want to run out and vote early in the primaries for Brownback. /s

[Nonstatist]

I think the Brownback- type - Republican is as deplorable as the RINO; using the Fed Govt to push his little causes. Just as bad as the Kennedy liberal; every little thing has a gov’t solution, financed by the taxpayer. Plus, the guy is a nitwit. Just like Kennedy.

[Catholic Iowan]

I can’t stand Kennedy as much as the rest of you, but I must say, the attacks on Sen. Brownback seem misplaced. Complaining about efforts to help mothers who are pregnant with children with disabilities? Are you kidding me??? This kind of thing gives ammo to the libs who say pro-lifers are just concerned about the baby in the womb, but to hell with them and their mothers after they are born. Re-read the article, up to 90% of unborn children diagnosed with down syndrome are aborted. Sadly, there are probably those who claim to be pro-life that would abort such children as these if they found themselves pregnant with a diagnosed down syndrome child. Maybe to some, not all of God’s children are worthy of life after all. While not trusting Kennedy, I still give Brownback credit for being solidly pro-life. Wish some of you wouldn’t feel the need to be so damn negative.