"I wholeheartedly believe that life begins at conception. Our Constitution already protects all life, and I have sworn to uphold the Constitution. I will continue to serve all East Tennesseans by consistently voting for life as well as supporting and cosponsoring bills like my former colleague Rep. Tom Coburn's bill that would have defined life as the presence of a heartbeat and brain wave."

"The government should not be in the practice of blackmailing health care entities into performing abortions. Recently, with my full support the House passed H.R. 4691, the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act by a vote of 229-189. This act amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Federal government, and any state government, from forcing hospitals which receive federal funding to provide elective abortions if it objects on moral, ethical, or religious grounds."

"The unborn are the most innocent and vulnerable members of our society. We need to protect those institutions that respect their right to life."