The George Allen Record – Pro-Life Record – June 1, 2004
As co-sponsor of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, on June 1, 2004, George Allen issued the following statement condemning a San Francisco federal district judge’s ruling that the ban on partial-birth abortion was unconstitutional. In 2007, the Supreme Court upheld the law passed by the people’s representatives in Congress.
“Late term, Partial Birth Abortion is a rare, gruesome procedure that the American Medical Association says is akin to infanticide. It seems to be fairly typical that an unelected federal judge in San Francisco tries to stop a law that received such broad bipartisan support in Congress,” stated Allen. “The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act is a reasonable measure which reflects the sensibilities and will of most Virginians and Americans.”
George Allen has a proven record of standing up for families through supporting initiatives that protect innocent, unborn life. As Governor, Allen made history by signing the first-ever parental notification bill in Virginia that required a physician to notify at least one parent or guardian before performing an abortion. As Senator, Allen received a 100% rating from the National Right to Life Committee. In addition to being a co-sponsor of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, he opposed federal funding for overseas organizations that fund abortions and empowered parents by co-sponsoring a bill prohibiting minors who travel across state lines to circumvent parental consent or notification laws.
The George Allen Record – Breast Cancer Awareness – May 2, 2006
On May 2, 2006, the National Breast Cancer Coalition recognized George Allen with a major award for outstanding leadership in the fight against breast cancer, particularly his long dedication to finding links between environmental factors and breast cancer. The coalition is a grass-roots advocacy group that brings together hundreds of organizations and tens of thousands of individuals, many of whom are breast cancer survivors.
For Allen, the fight against breast cancer is personal. “My mother is a two-time breast cancer survivor, so our family knows that early detection, research and better treatment approaches are important to so many families, who like my own, have confronted this prevalent disease,” stated Allen in accepting the award. “Both as Governor and now as Senator, breast cancer issues have been one of my top priorities.”
As Senator, Allen co-sponsored the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act, legislation designed to address development and operation of research centers focused on environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer. During his service as Governor of Virginia, both George and his wife Susan brought top-level attention and visibility to the fight against breast cancer. Mrs. Allen established the First Lady’s Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative, and has continued her tireless efforts with cancer-related issues, having served as Honorary Chair for the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure as well as the Pink Ribbon Classic and Relay for Life; she serves on the Ellen Shaw de Parades Advisory Board, chairing their annual fundraiser in 2010.
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George Allen Statement on the Supreme Court Declining to Expedite Virginia’s Health Care Challenge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 25, 2011
Richmond, VA – George Allen today issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to reject expediting Virginia’s health care challenge:
“While not surprising, it is disappointing that the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to expedite the review of Virginia’s lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care monstrosity. This delay will cost taxpayers and businesses significant resources as they work to put themselves in compliance with a complex and overreaching government-run health care power grab. For the rights and prerogatives of Virginians it is my hope that the courts will work quickly to review this anti-jobs government mandate that exceeds the constitutional bounds of the federal government. Immediate action is needed to so we can replace this massive, expensive experiment with reforms that foster better access to affordable, personal and quality health care opportunities for families and small business owners.”
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The George Allen Record – Parental Notification – April 20, 1994
Declaring that “to sign this bill would perpetrate a fraud on the parents of Virginia,” on April 20, 1994, George Allen vetoed Senate Bill 610, with a promise to continue working to give Virginians a true parental notification bill that respects the rights and responsibilities of parents in their child’s life. The bill required notification only of “an adult relative” instead of parent or legal guardian for minors under age 16 seeking abortions.
“The people of Virginia want parental notification, not side-steps such as brother and sister notification, as this legislation would establish and allow,” stated Allen. “I promised the people honest change, and I would be going against my word if I signed a bill which circumvents the right of a parent to know if their minor daughter is going through the trauma of an abortion. Virginians want and deserve truth and honesty in legislating… I will veto SB 610, as acted upon by the Senate, and continue to work, in years to come, for a truthful parental notification law.”
Governor Allen’s willingness to stand on principle and insist on real parental notification bill led to its signing on March 22, 1997. After a nearly 18-year fight, a true and honest parental notification bill requiring a physician to notify at least one parent or legal guardian at least 24 hours before performing an abortion on an unwed girl under 18 years old became law in Virginia. Over 2,500 people joined Allen outside the State Capitol to watch Virginia join the 36 other states to have implemented similar parental notification and/or parental consent laws.
Statement of George Allen on the One-Year Anniversary of Government-Run Health Care
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 23, 2011
Statement of George Allen on the One-Year Anniversary of Government-Run Health Care
Mount Vernon, VA – George Allen issued the following statement on today’s one-year anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act:
“A year ago today President Obama ignored the objections of the American people and signed into law a $2.5 trillion health care monstrosity – one year later We the People are still being ignored. This unconstitutional, anti-jobs government mandate has resulted in a massive expansion of government, higher premiums, and rapidly growing debt. Twenty-eight states, including Virginia, are challenging the law for violating the constitutional rights and prerogatives of their citizens. It is clear to everyone but those in Washington that this is the wrong prescription to fix our health system. Before any more damage is done, we need to repeal and replace this monstrosity with reforms that will make health care more affordable and accessible for Virginia families and small businesses.”
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The George Allen Record – Parental Notification Bill – March 22, 1997
After an 18-year struggle, on March 22, 1997, George Allen signed into law a true and honest parental notification bill requiring parents or legal guardians to be notified if their minor daughter is going through the trauma of an abortion.
Over 2,500 people joined Allen outside the State Capitol to watch Virginia join the 36 other states to have implemented similar parental notification and/or parental consent laws.
“The family is the bedrock of society and the backbone of our economy. For generations, loving, caring families imparted to us and our forbearers the very values that made America good: individual initiative, personal responsibility, honesty, hard work, compassion for those less fortunate, and of course, faith in God,” stated Allen. “Parents have the right and responsibility to be involved with the important decisions in their young children’s lives. Today we are signing legislation affirming the importance and necessity of a parent’s guidance and counsel if their young daughter is facing the trauma of an abortion.”
Allen’s parental notification bill (SB 1148) requires a physician to notify at least one parent or legal guardian at least 24 hours before performing an abortion on an unwed girl under 18 years old.
Committed to achieving a strong notification law, Allen vetoed a weakened version of the bill in 1994 that would have lowered the age requirement to 16 as well as allowed relatives other than parents to be notified.
Webb Continues to Ignore Virginians on Health Care
Mt. Vernon, VA – George Allen issued the following statement regarding Senator Jim Webb’s vote against repealing Obamacare:
“Jim Webb has once again ignored the voices of Virginians outraged by the federal health care law to side with his liberal friends in Washington. By voting against the repeal of the government run health bill he has ignored the concerns of the courts, the American people and Virginia’s job creators who believe this bill needs to be repealed and replaced with common sense reforms.
“Virginians and Americans would be better served by reforms that will deliver on the promise to make health care more affordable and accessible, including personal health savings accounts, and expanding competition to allow health insurance to be acquired across state lines. As it stands now, the health care law and its odious mandates exceed the constitutional bounds of the federal government and subjects citizens to higher costs, limits their choices and restricts their access to quality health care.”
The Constitutional Moment – Judge Vinson introduces ObamaCare to Madison and Marshall
Great editorial in this morning’s Wall Street Journal examining the Constitutional reasoning behind yesterday’s court ruling striking down the federal health care monstrosity. The individual mandate is unconstitutional – and the ruling is not really about health insurance, but may be “the moment the political branches were obliged to return to the government of limited and enumerated powers that the framers envisioned.”
Principled ruling from Judge Vinson in Florida, right on the heels of a similar one from Judge Henry Hudson in Virginia, whom I was proud to nominate to the federal bench.
The Constitutional Moment
Judge Vinson introduces ObamaCare to Madison and Marshall.
Wall Street Journal Editorial
February 1, 2011
‘If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.”
Federal Judge Roger Vinson opens his decision declaring ObamaCare unconstitutional with that citation from Federalist No. 51, written by James Madison in 1788. His exhaustive and erudite opinion is an important moment for American liberty, and yesterday may well stand as the moment the political branches were obliged to return to the government of limited and enumerated powers that the framers envisioned.
As Judge Vinson took pains to emphasize, the case is not really about health care at all, or the wisdom—we would argue the destructiveness—of the newest entitlement. Rather, the Florida case goes to the core of the architecture of the American system, and whether there are any remaining limits on federal control. Judge Vinson’s 78-page ruling in favor of 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Business, among others, is by far the best legal vindication to date of Constitutional principles that form the outer boundaries of federal power.
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George Allen Statement on FL Health Care Ruling
For Immediate Release:
January 31, 2011
George Allen Statement on FL Health Care Ruling
- Federal Judge Rules Individual Mandate Unconstitutional –
Mt. Vernon, VA – U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson has ruled the “individual mandate” portion of the federal health care law unconstitutional, becoming the second federal judge to do so. U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson of Virginia ruled in a similar fashion in December. Senate candidate George Allen today issued the following statement:
“Today’s ruling by Judge Roger Vinson in Florida is another victory for the voices of Virginians and Americans who oppose this unfair, anti-job, unconstitutional federal government dictate. The constitutionally sound judgments made by Judge Vinson and Judge Hudson echo what Americans have believed all along – that this health care bill and its odious mandates exceed the constitutional bounds of the federal government.
“Recently Senator Webb said he would ‘prefer’ to let the bill play out in the courts and then ‘adapt.’ It is past time for Senator Webb and his liberal colleagues to “adapt” and work to repeal this monstrosity. Rather than dictates and dependency, we need to replace this massive, expensive experiment with reforms that foster more affordable and accessible health care opportunities for families and small business owners.”
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