On June 12, the House Judiciary Committee approved, 20-12, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 1797), as amended. The bill previously was approved by the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice (see The Source, 6/7/13).
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), would ban abortions nationwide after 20 weeks.
During its consideration of the bill, the committee rejected the following amendments:
Chair Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) said, “Since the Supreme Court’s controversial decision in Roe v. Wade in 1973, medical knowledge regarding the development of unborn babies and their capacities at various stages of growth has advanced dramatically…Congress has the power to acknowledge these developments by prohibiting abortions after the point at which scientific evidence shows the unborn can feel pain, with limited exceptions. H.R. 1797 does just that. It also includes provisions to protect the life of the mother…I congratulate Chairman Franks on introducing this vital legislation, and l urge all my colleagues to support it.”
Rep. DelBene said, “I’m deeply frustrated and disappointed by the Judiciary Committee’s actions today to report out of committee unconscionable and unconstitutional legislation that would endanger women by limiting their access to abortion – even for victims of rape and incest, or in cases where a pregnancy threatens a woman’s health…In an attempt to overturn Roe v. Wade and longstanding Supreme Court precedent, this bill unilaterally takes away a woman’s ability to make what is a deeply personal decision. These health care decisions should be left to a woman and her family in consultation with her doctor and not by politicians.”
