On June 18, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 1797), as amended, was approved, 228-196, by the House of Representatives. The legislation was previously approved by the House Judiciary Committee on June 12 (see The Source, 6/14/13).
The bill, introduced by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), would restrict abortions after 20 weeks nationwide. Prior to its consideration on the House floor, the bill was amended to permit abortions after 20 weeks in the case of rape or incest against a minor if the victims reported the sexual assault or child abuse to law enforcement officials. The bill also includes a provision for abortion in cases where the life of the mother is at risk.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) said, “The question we have to ask ourselves is this: What is the moral difference between what Kermit Gosnell did to a baby born alive at 23 weeks and aborting her moments before her birth? I suggest, humbly, that there is no difference. To condemn Gosnell is to condemn late-term abortions. To condone late-term abortion is to condone the tragedy that allowed poor women and children in that house of horrors in Philadelphia to suffer and die. With over 60 percent of Americans supporting a ban on abortions in the second trimester and over 80 percent supporting the ban in the third trimester, our humanity compels us to end this violent and abhorrent practice.”
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) spoke against the bill saying, “The fact of the matter is that today’s legislation is clearly unconstitutional, and contains narrow and inadequate exceptions for the life of a woman and victims of rape and incest. Many serious health conditions actually materialize or worsen after the 20-week mark in a pregnancy, and can seriously compromise the health of the mother. Physicians need to be able to provide the best care for their patients, and in cases a woman’s health is exacerbated by pregnancy, politicians have no place in intruding in the doctor-patient relationship, and criminalizing those who are trying to protect the health and safety of their patients.”
