Down Syndrome Advocate to Congress: 'My Life Is Worth Living'

Nick Kangadis | October 30, 2017
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“I am a man with Down syndrome, and my life is worth living.”

In one of the more powerful speeches you will ever hear on Capitol Hill, Frank Stephens, an advocate for people with Down syndrome, begged the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education last week to end the genocide against Down children.

“Let’s be America, not Iceland or Denmark,” Stephens told the committee. “Let’s pursue answers, not ‘final solutions.’”

Stephens, who has Down syndrome himself, brought up those countries after reports earlier this year showed that countries like Iceland, Denmark and France have been screening for and aborting babies that appear to have Down syndrome on a mass scale.

“I don’t feel I should have to justify my existence,” Stephens told the committee.No, you shouldn’t.“We are giving the world a chance to think about the ethics of choosing which humans get a chance at life,” Stephens said. “Is there really no place for us in the world?”

According to studies, nearly 100 percent of Icelandic women have an abortion when they find out their child has Down syndrome. Denmark’s rate of Down syndrome abortions are at 98 percent, and France’s rate is at 77 percent.

Stephens’ speech before Congress to keep and increase funding of Down syndrome comes as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are estimating to decrease funding from fiscal year 2017 to 2018 from $28 million to $21 million.

“We [people with Down syndrome] are an unusually powerful source of happiness,” Stephens said referencing a report that families with someone with Down syndrome have mostly positive experiences. “Surely happiness is worth something.”

For Stephens’ speech to Congress, watch below:

H/T: The Blaze 

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