On Tuesday in Washington all of the Republican Congressmen voted for H.R. 1797, formally known as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.
The bill passed by a margin of 228-196.
The bill makes it illegal for an abortion to be performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Doctors would be required to determine the age of the fetus and could only terminate the pregnancy to protect the life of the mother. Psychological or emotional conditions are not considered when assessing the danger to the mother's life.
The bill gained momentum in recent weeks as news emerged of the trial of Philadelphia-area doctor Kermit Gosnell, who performed numerous late-stage abortions
The bill now moves to the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Rep. Joe Wilson (R-2) released the following statement on the bill's passage:
“In recent weeks, we have watched in horror as details emerged of Dr. Kermit Gosnell’s criminal procedures that resulted in the murder of children and endangerment of women. By passing today’s legislation, House Republicans are recognizing the reality of these heinous crimes and ensuring that our women and children are not exposed to this kind of danger again. The set of laws that govern this Nation, allowing every American to exercise our freedoms, are in place to protect us and must be extended to cover the innocent unborn. As a proud original co-sponsor of this bill and an individual who believes that life begins at conception, it is my hope that the Senate will continue our efforts and pass this legislation to put an end to the threats late-term abortions impose on our unborn children and mothers.”
Rep. Tom Rice (R-7) issued the following statement on passage of the bill:
“After learning about Dr. Gosnell’s heinous acts and the procedures he performed in his ‘House of Horrors,’ I cosponsored this life-saving bill without hesitation. As concerned fathers, mothers, grandparents, sisters, brothers, aunts, and uncles, it is our priority to protect unborn babies from these violent procedures. There are more Gosnells out there, and I am proud we were able to band together and put an end to dangerous late-term abortions.”
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