Prenatal Nondiscrimination Bill Examined by House Subcommittee

On April 14, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitution and Civil Justice held a hearing on H.R. 4924, the Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA), sponsored by Chair Trent Franks (R-AZ).

The bill would impose criminal penalties on anyone who knowingly attempts to perform an abortion on the basis of the sex, gender, color, or race of the child, or the race of the parent. It also would deem it unlawful to use force, or the threat of force, to intentionally injure or intimidate any person in order to coerce such an abortion, or to solicit or accept funds for the performance of such an abortion. Civil penalties would be available to women upon whom such an abortion was attempted or performed, and to the relatives of the unborn child.

The following witnesses testified during the hearing:

• Catherine Davis, founding core member, National Black Prolife Coalition, president, The Restoration Project;
• Anna Higgins, associate scholar, Charlotte Lozier Institute;
• Miriam Yeung, executive director, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum; and
• Derek McCoy, director, National Clergy Relations, Center for Urban Renewal and Education.