January 22, 2013 marked 40 years since the U.S. Supreme Court imposed abortion on demand for all nine months on the citizens of the United States. For 40 years, the Supreme Court decisions have sanctioned the killing of an estimated 55 million children. For 40 years countless women have suffered physically, emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically from the violence of abortion. And for 40 years, pro-life voices have persevered and grown stronger as we fight for the unborn child's right to life and offer assistance to his or her mother.

40 years later, the two women who filed the initial lawsuits which resulted in the establishment of abortion on demand throughout the United States-Norma Corvey the "Roe" of Roe v Wade and Sandra Cano the "Doe" Doe v. Bolton-are now ardent pro-life advocates who work to overturn the deadly court decisions.

All around the United States, numerous state pro-life events and activities marked the solemn commemoration of the day including activities on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Victims of abortion spoke out at a press conference hosted by Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Co-Chairs of Congressional Pro-life Caucus, and Diane Black (R-TN) entitled: "40 Years of Victims - Abortion Hurts Women & Babies".

Post-abortive women shared their experiences, pain and suffering from abortion, vowing to be "silent no more". Irene Beltrain, who now directs California's post abortive Silent No More Awareness Campaign spoke of feeling her baby "kick and turn hastily" as the abortionist inserted the poisonous saline solution. "I have suffered from depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder, to name a few. I felt damaged, humiliated, and hopeless after my abortion. Women deserve better than abortion," said Beltrain.

Representative Dan Lipinski spoke of rededication, "While we mourn for the babies and their mothers, we in the pro-life movement must rededicate ourselves to prayer and action to protect life. In Washington we must continue to focus on changing our nation's laws."

Piercing questions were raised by Rep. Diane Black: "Over the last 40 years, more than 55 million babies have been aborted. What does that communicate about our society? Do we value women, families, children, life? Or do we prefer convenience, short-term solutions, and moral relativity?"

Members of the House of Representatives took to the House floor to highlight the travesty of abortion in America during a Special Order on January 22.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn spoke of legislative efforts to reduce funding for abortion, including her bill to reduce Title X funding. "We are continuing to work to make certain that we focus on helping the families that have felt the impact of abortion in their life. We're focusing on celebrating life and committing to making certain that we stand and work toward a pro-life America," said Blackburn.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler spoke of the damaging effects abortion has on the unborn, women, men and society: "Abortion has consequences. It deadens our consciences and it perpetrates the lie that killing the unborn is morally acceptable." Freshman member Rep Ann Wagner added strong words, "I believe in the sanctity of life, that life is truly a gift, from conception to natural death, and I am dedicated to protecting the rights of the unborn. I support the efforts to reduce the number of abortions in this country, and will work not only to make abortion illegal, but to make abortion unthinkable."

The growing number of young people who actively oppose abortion and who will converge on Washington during the March for Life on January 25 was recognized by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry: "Among the people who will come are multitudes of young persons from all over America-young people who are the inheritors of the great civil rights traditions of this land. These young people are pro-life... they're really saying something pretty simple. They are saying that the time for honesty has come, that the time for a new national conversation has come, that the time for the violence to end has come, and that the time since the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand some 40 years ago has inflicted a deep wound on ourselves and the very soul of this country."

The fact that abortion violates human rights and principles of justice and compassion was highlighted by Rep. Chris Smith: "The passage of time hasn't changed the fact that abortion is a serious, lethal violation of fundamental human rights. And that women and children deserve better-much better. And that the demands of justice, generosity and compassion demands that the right to life be guaranteed to everyone, regardless of age, sex, race, condition of dependency, disability, or stage of development."

Smith continued, "Someday future generations will look back on America and wonder how and why such a seemingly enlightened society, so blessed and endowed with education, advanced science, information, wealth and opportunity could have failed to protect the innocent and inconvenient."

Moves to restore protection to children in the womb in the U.S. are advancing on the state level; 2012 was deemed an historic year for pro-life legislation. A report by Americans United for Life (AUL) evaluated the pro-life efforts in all 50 states, "Last year, at least 60 new life-affirming laws, including at least 38 measures related to abortion, were enacted. Additionally, 16 pro-life state resolutions were adopted." Legislation enacted included bans on government funding for abortion, restrictions on abortion drugs, ultrasound requirements, abortion clinic regulations and informed consent laws. AUL President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest, explained that these state-level successes lay "the foundation for rolling back and reversing Roe v. Wade."