If you want to hear absurd statements, ask pro-abortion politicians to defend their views on the unborn. [Tuesday], CNS News asked House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) whether “an unborn baby with a human liver and a human heart is a human being.” He refused to take a position on what he called a “very, very controversial and very tough issue.” CNS countered, “If it’s not of the human species, what species is it?” Whip Hoyer’s response? “I’m done. I’m done here.”

Vice President Joe Biden was questioned about his pro-abortion status conflicting with his Catholic faith. Echoing Barack Obama during his presidential race in 2008, Biden said that having a theological discussion about when life begins is “above my paygrade.” He admitted that while he agrees with the Catholic Church’s belief in life at conception, “I’m not prepared to say that to other God-fearing, non-God fearing people that have a different view.” But supporting unrestricted abortion isn’t above his pay-grade?

Thankfully, the statements on the side of life have been many and unequivocally strong.

[Tuesday], nearly 17 years after he voted to override President Clinton’s veto of the Federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban, Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) expressed his sorrow over the Senate’s failure to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. He asked those who opposed the bill to consider “what permitting late term abortion says about our nation’s commitment to fighting for life, standing up for human rights when our conscience calls us to.”

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) said of the failure of the bill to pass, “It says a lot about who we are as a country. This chamber just had the opportunity to send a clear message that America is a nation that seeks to advance a culture of life and opportunity for everyone, particularly those who are the most vulnerable.”

But the Senate is not done fighting for the sanctity of life. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed a motion to proceed to the Senate Continuing Resolution (CR) spending measure to keep the government open and it includes the House passed one-year measure redirecting tax dollars away from Planned Parenthood to the thousands of community health centers that are not involved in the abortion business. A vote on the motion to proceed could come as early as [today]. This is a strong step to address federal complicity in Planned Parenthood’s abort for organs campaign. Unfortunately, Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) took to the Floor to criticize GOP Leadership for “pushing this strategy even though they know they don’t have the votes.” Is that the determining factor of what we should fight for? I must have missed that press conference. Was that before or after the GOP fought tooth and nail to pass legislation regarding the Keystone Pipeline knowing they didn’t have the votes to override a presidential veto? Some things like economic freedom, religious liberty and the right to life are things were fighting for regardless of the odds.

Your Senators need to know that you don’t want any more of your hard-earned tax money going to Planned Parenthood. Urge them to vote for the CR that defunds Planned Parenthood.

Protecting the Protectors

Sgt. 1st Class Charles Martland is a member of the elite Green Berets. Winner of two Bronze Stars, including one for valor, this exceptional soldier has been told he will be dismissed from the military in November.

His crime? He confronted an Afghan military leader who had chained a 12 year-old boy to his bed in order to rape him — repeatedly. When the boy’s mother, herself brutalized by the same Afghan commander, pled with Sgt. Martland and Captain Daniel Quinn to intervene, “the soldiers summoned the Afghan commander and confronted him.”

Sadly, this phenomenon is not new. The sexual abuse of children is widespread in Afghanistan. As the New York Times reports, “Among American military personnel and civilians who served in Afghanistan, it was well known that many wealthy and prominent Afghans rape boys, often making them dress up as women and dance at gatherings during which they are assaulted — and that Western officials often turned a blind eye to the practice for fear of alienating allies.”

“Alienating allies?” If America can’t stand up to brutal men who vilely abuse children, what do we stand for? Capt. Quinn, who already has left the service, and Sgt. Martland were reprimanded for standing up for the little boy and his mother. And now, Sgt. Martland has been “ordered discharged (and) was informed Tuesday that the Army has denied his appeal.”

Although Sgt. Martland “can still appeal to the Army Board for Correction of Military Records,” his military career appears to be over.

This is outrageous. Sgt. Martland deserves a medal, not a reprimand. I have spoken to members of the Senate and they along with Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) are demanding accountability. In a letter to Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Hunter has written that “when making a decision between supporting an elite warrior like Martland or a child rapist and criminal, the organizations or individuals in a position to make a decision will side with Martland.” And in a letter to Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Buchanan wrote, “It is bad enough if the Pentagon is telling our soldiers to ignore this type of barbaric and savage behavior, but it’s even worse if we are punishing those who try to stop it. The only people who should be punished are the ones who created and condoned this immoral and savage code.”

At FRC, we agree with these members of Congress — and, more importantly, with men of courage and honor like Charles Martland and Daniel Quinn.

It is utterly unacceptable that for defending a little boy and his mother that a true American hero like Sgt. Martland would be penalized. To show your support, sign FRC’s petition to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees asking them to pressure the Pentagon to clear Sgt. Martland’s record on the matter and investigate DOD’s policy concerning the ability of U.S. military personnel to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation.

Let’s Give LEOs a Prayer

Last week, Congressman John Fleming (R-La.) introduced a Resolution (H. Res. 430) that “calls upon the President to declare a National Day of Prayer to end targeted violence against law enforcement officers and to schedule appropriate public events in support of such a day.” The Resolution highlights the senseless, targeted murders of police officers in Texas and New York, as well as the instances of ambush attacks on our law enforcement. The President has the opportunity to unify the country behind the individuals who daily stand in harm’s way. These are the individuals who run into harm’s way when other run for safety. They are the heroes who are called in our most desperate hours to help the hurting and to provide hope that justice will prevail. They are our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, and sons and daughters. They stand guard in our communities and the President should, at the very least, declare a National Day of Prayer to end targeted violence against our law enforcement officers.

This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.