“Every Human Life Is a Sacred Gift from God” – State of the Union Advances Major ACLJ Policy Priorities Defending Religious Liberty, Unborn Lives, and More

President Trump just delivered what may go down in history as one of the most powerful State of the Union addresses ever.

Addressing Congress, the American people, and the entire world, the President proudly proclaimed:

Three years ago, we launched the great American comeback. Tonight, I stand before you to share the incredible results. Jobs are booming, incomes are soaring, poverty is plummeting, crime is falling, confidence is surging, and our country is thriving and highly respected again! America’s enemies are on the run, America’s fortunes are on the rise, and America’s future is blazing bright.

President Trump listed a string of victories and aspirations for his Administration and our nation, including the strength of our economy, the restored power of our military, peace for Israel, increased security for our southern border, and the value of human life – each of which advance key ACLJ policy priorities.

In the biggest moment of the State of the Union address, President Trump made vitally clear the reason that we must continue to fight for the lives of the unborn.

He told a powerful story of a premature baby who was saved by the power of modern medicine and contrasted it with efforts to kill those same babies in late-term abortions:

As we pray for all who are sick, we know that America is constantly achieving new medical breakthroughs. In 2017, doctors at St. Luke’s hospital in Kansas City delivered one of the earliest premature babies ever to survive. Born at just 21 weeks and 6 days, and weighing less than a pound, Ellie Schneider was born a fighter. Through the skill of her doctors — and the prayers of her parents — little Ellie kept on winning the battle for life. Today, Ellie is a strong, healthy 2-year-old girl sitting with her amazing mother Robin in the gallery. Ellie and Robin: We are so glad you are here.

Ellie reminds us that every child is a miracle of life. Thanks to modern medical wonders, 50 percent of very premature babies delivered at the hospital where Ellie was born now survive. Our goal should be to ensure that every baby has the best chance to thrive and grow just like Ellie. That is why . . . I am calling upon the Members of Congress here tonight to pass legislation finally banning the late-term abortion of babies.

Whether we are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, surely we must all agree that every human life is a sacred gift from God!

At the ACLJ, we have long been fighting to defend the lives of unborn babies from the horror of abortion. We are fighting horrific extreme abortion laws in courtrooms across this country. We have been urging Congress to pass the late-term abortion ban, when babies can feel the pain of abortion. You can stand with us, and the President, in calling for the end of this horror by signing our petition.

In another area core to the mission of the ACLJ, the President addressed the vital need for the protection of religious liberty. From employees being chastised for displaying scripture in the work area, to schoolchildren being punished for bringing Bibles to school, the ACLJ is constantly defending religious liberty. President Trump also took a bold stance for the protection of our First Freedom, declaring: “we don’t punish prayer.” He stated:

My Administration is also defending religious liberty, and that includes the Constitutional right to pray in public schools. In America, we do not punish prayer. We do not tear down crosses. We do not ban symbols of faith. We do not muzzle preachers and pastors. In America, we celebrate faith. We cherish religion. We lift our voices in prayer, and we raise our sights to the Glory of God!

The President also talked about the confirmation of a record number of conservative federal judges. Something we’ve supported and fought for since he took office:

With every action, my Administration is restoring the rule of law and re-asserting the culture of American freedom. Working with Senate Majority Leader McConnell and his colleagues in the Senate, we have confirmed a record number of 187 new Federal judges to uphold our Constitution as written. This includes two brilliant new Supreme Court Justices, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh.

The President also appealed to Congress to work with him to secure our borders, to keep dangerous criminals out, and to finally put an end to so-called “sanctuary cities.”

I ask the Congress to pass the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act immediately. The United States of America should be a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans — not criminal aliens!

In the last 3 years, ICE has arrested over 5,000 wicked human traffickers — and I have signed 9 pieces of legislation to stamp out the menace of human trafficking, domestically and around the globe.

My Administration has undertaken an unprecedented effort to secure the southern border of the United States.

Before I came into office, if you showed up illegally on our southern border and were arrested, you were simply released and allowed into our country, never to be seen again. My Administration has ended Catch-and-Release.

Protecting our border and keeping everyone who lives here legally safe has been a major issue for the ACLJ and our members. President Trump’s message to illegal aliens was simple: “If you come illegally, you will now be promptly removed.”

In another part of the address, the President took on the scourge of socialism head on. At the ACLJ, we are still fighting the extreme regulations foisted upon the American people by ObamaCare, like the unconstitutional abortion-pill mandate. President Trump promised to create a fair health insurance choice – not a socialist mandate that requires Americans to pay for abortion coverage.

In fact, the President reiterated his previous message that “America will never be a socialist country” while discussing healthcare:

One hundred thirty-two lawmakers in this room have endorsed legislation to impose a socialist takeover of our healthcare system, wiping out the private health insurance plans of 180 million Americans. To those watching at home tonight, I want you to know: We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare!

The President gave the world an update on the War on Terror, and the eliminations of vile terrorists like ISIS leader al-Baghdadi and savage Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

My Administration is also strongly defending our national security and combating radical Islamic terrorism. . . .

Three years ago, the barbarians of ISIS held over 20,000 square miles of territory in Iraq and Syria. Today, the ISIS territorial caliphate has been 100 percent destroyed, and the founder and leader of ISIS — the bloodthirsty killer Al‑Baghdadi — is dead! . . .

Soleimani was the Iranian Regime’s most ruthless butcher, a monster who murdered or wounded thousands of American service members in Iraq. . . . That is why, last month, at my direction, the United States Military executed a flawless precision strike that killed Soleimani and terminated his evil reign of terror forever.

In addition, it is our moral obligation to protect the interests of our greatest ally in the Middle East, Israel. President Trump outlined his Middle East peace efforts to end the violent tensions:

Last week, I announced a groundbreaking plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Recognizing that all past attempts have failed, we must be determined and creative in order to stabilize the region and give millions of young people the change to realize a better future.

He also made an appeal to the people of Iran, as well as its leaders, to turn its back on terror:

In recent months, we have seen proud Iranians raise their voices against their oppressive rulers. The Iranian regime must abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons, stop spreading terror, death, and destruction, and start working for the good of its own people. Because of our powerful sanctions, the Iranian economy is doing very poorly. We can help them make it very good in a short period of time, but perhaps they are too proud or too foolish to ask for that help. We are here. Let’s see which road they choose. It is totally up to them.

We’ve warned you that Iran remains a viable threat to not just Israel or America, but the entire world. It must not be allowed to develop weapons of mass destruction. As President Trump said, this is Iran’s chance to turn things around, for its own betterment.

It is our hope that Iran hears the President’s message, and looks to America as an example of what could be, if it chooses peace and prosperity over violence and oppression.

As President Trump stated:

America is the place where anything can happen! America is the place where anyone can rise. And here, on this land, on this soil, on this continent, the most incredible dreams come true! . . .

Our spirit is still young; the sun is still rising; God’s grace is still shining; and my fellow Americans, the best is yet to come!

At the ACLJ, we will continue to work aggressively to push forward each of these policy priorities – in the courts, on Capitol Hill, and across the globe.