Pro-life groups, politicians hail House passage of 20-week abortion ban

Life Site News ^ | May 13, 2015 | Dustin Siggins

[campaignPete R-CT]

After months of wrangling, pro-life politicians and outside organizations praised the House for passing HR. 36, the "Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," which aims to ban most abortions after 20 weeks.

The final vote was 242-184, with one Republican voting "present." Four Democrats voted for the bill, and four Republicans against it.

“I think America is at its best when we are standing up for the least among us," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, said in a statement released after the vote. "This debate is long overdue." The senator is expected to introduce similar legislation in the Senate.

The vote took place on the two-year anniversary of the murder conviction of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell, and was something pro-life groups had pushed for several months. Rep. Mike Kelly, a Republican from Gosnell's state of Pennsylvania, invoked the convict in comments on the House floor just before the vote took place.

"Scientific evidence now shows that unborn babies can feel pain by 20 weeks post-fertilization, and likely even earlier," said Kelly. "A late term abortion is an excruciatingly painful and inhumane act against children waiting to be born and their mothers."

Citing concern for the safety of women - "women terminating pregnancies at 20 weeks are 35 times more likely to die from abortion than they are in the first trimester, and 91 times more likely to die from abortion at 21 weeks or beyond," according to Kelly - the congressman said that "overwhelmingly, most Americans...support legislation to protect these innocent people."

[EternalVigilance]

If they won’t keep even the first obligations of their oath, what difference does it make?

[campaignPete R-CT]

Hanna had no opponent on the ballot in NOV 2014. Absurd that nobody was asked to grab the DEM nomination. It would have been an excellent opportunity.

There is no ballot access in NY-22 if the Conservative Party nominee decides to stand down. Independence Party

[Nextrush]

The religious leaders are where they are but the Republican leaders are caving on religious freedom laws like Romney and McCain did last year when the law was vetoed by then Republican governor Jan Brewer and we have the Mike Pence Indiana cave and Asa Hutchinson Arkansas cave this year.

I see Republican caving and I am acting accordingly by not voting for the 95 percent fake conservatives in the GOP under any circumstances, including general elections.