Newly announced presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and potential Republican candidate Carly Fiorina will headline the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List’s Campaign for Life Gala and Summit on April 16, 2015 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C.
According to a press release, Paul will address the pro-life group’s supporters at the Summit, which will also feature Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA). The Summit, which is in its eighth year, will be attended by conservative journalists, lawmakers, and television personalities who support the pro-life message. Panels will provide discussion about campaign strategy and the pro-life legislative agenda.
Fiorina, who is chairman of the American Conservative Union Foundation, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies at the gala event, which is being chaired by The Hon. & Mrs. Ken Blackwell. Graham will keynote the event and Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, will receive an award for his role as a distinguished leader.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) will also receive a pro-life award at the gala.
“With the Republican presidential field unified behind the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, momentum is building to advance this legislation in Congress and elect a pro-life president who will sign it into law,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List.
The Pain-Capable Act, however, was pulled from the House floor in January on the eve of the March for Life. At that time, House Republican leadership acquiesced to a group of Republican lawmakers led by Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) who claimed they were concerned about the measure’s rape reporting language, though it became readily apparent they were more concerned about not winning the votes of women and millennials.
Republican members of Congress such as Rep. Tim Huelskamp (KS) and Diane Black (TN) have continued to call upon GOP leadership to bring back the bill for a vote.
“We are encouraged to have such a diverse coalition of leaders from across the Republican Party participate in this year’s Gala and Summit with these very goals in mind,” Dannenfelser continued. “It is heartbreaking to see the Democratic Party, which once championed the weakest and most vulnerable, hold fast to their party platform of abortion on-demand, at taxpayer’s expense.”
Dannenfelser said Democrats’ “extremism turns off many Americans – including women, Hispanics, and young people. We look forward to seeing this year’s speakers address this clear difference and the fact that the pro-life position is not only morally just, it is politically smart.”