Posted on 06/18/2013 6:20:23 PM PDT by NYer
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 18, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would restrict all abortions nationwide to the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
The “Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” (H.R. 1797), introduced by Arizona Republica Trent Franks, would end abortion after a point that scientists agree unborn children can feel pain.
In a nearly party-line vote, the measure passed 228-196.
Six Democrats voted yes. Six Republicans voted against the bill. Ten Congressmen did not vote. The full roll call, showing how every Congressman voted, is below.
Democrats who voted yes include: Henry Cuellar of Texas, Dan Lipinski of Illinois, Jim Matheson of Utah, Mike McIntyre of North Carolina, Collin Peterson of Minnesota, and Nick Rahall of West Virginia.
Republicans who voted against the bill include Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia, Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey, Richard Hanna of New York, Jon Runyan of New Jersey, and Rob Woodall of Georgia.
"Passage of today's landmark bill marks the first time in history, in either chamber of the U.S. Congress, that affirmative protection has been extended to unborn children,” said Franks. “It is my prayer that today also marks a day when America finally opens her eyes to the humanity of these little victims and the inhumanity of what is being done to them."
Others in the pro-lifemovement expressed their joy at the bill's passage.
“This vote makes a statement in favor of life even though the Dem[ocrat]-controlled Senate likely won't move on it,” said Cheryl Sullenger, senior policy advisor for Operation Rescue. “Getting this far was a big deal.”
The act's future is uncertain, as it lacks a companion in the Senate, and President Obama has threatened to veto it if the measure ever reaches his desk.
If the bill becomes law, abortionists who perform late-term abortions may face a fine or up to five years in prison.
The legislation would affect the 300 abortionists who perform abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization and an estimated 140 abortion providers who are willing to perform abortions at 24 weeks or later, according to a 2008 report from the Guttmacher Institute.
Some in the pro-life movement were outraged after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia added amendment allowing abortion in the cases of duly reported rape or incest, a change he made bowing to a media feeding frenzy over Franks' remarks about abortion and rape – remarks he says were misinterpreted.
The bill already allowed abortions to save the mother's life.
Georgia Right to Life rescinded its previous support of the bill, saying it had been “hijacked.”
“Sadly, the politics of compromise has decided that one class of children—those conceived by rape or incest—do not deserve protection from the agony of literally being ripped apart.,” said GRTL President Dan Becker.
Georgia Congressmen Paul Broun and Rob Woodall were two of the six Republicans to vote nay.
Most of the nation's pro-life groups strongly supported the incremental measure as an improvement over existing policy. Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee, said, "Any lawmaker who votes to allow unlimited abortion in the sixth month or later is voting to encourage a continuation of the horrors associated with the likes of Kermit Gosnell."
Cantor also scheduled Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-TN, to manage today's vote instead of Franks – something Democrats seized upon during the debate.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, who has strong ties to the Democratic Socialists of America, was among those who drew attention to the fact that there are no Republican women on the House Judiciary Committee, which passed the bill last Wednesday.
“Do you think it's fair or proper for a body of men to solely determine one of the most important and private decisions a woman can make in regard to her own health and body?” she asked.
Democrats appeared eager to change the subject from the bill's purpose – ending the practice of late-term abortions that led to the abuses of Kermit Gosnell and others – to their familiar “War on Women” rhetoric.
President Obama issued a statement yesterday saying he“strongly opposes” the bill, which he said presents a “direct challenge to Roe v. Wade and shows contempt for women's health and rights, the role doctors play in their patients' health care decisions, and the Constitution.”
Democrats shared his talking points in the hours prior to the vote.
“The bill is a direct threat to the privacy rights and health of every woman living in this country, and especially women of color,” said Rep. Barbara Lee, D-CA. She said minority members suffered even more “due to the terrible Hyde Amendment,” which forbids taxpayer funding of abortion.
Lee was the only member of Congress who did not vote to authorize force against the Taliban following 9/11.
The full roll call vote is as follows:
---- YEAS 228 ---
|
Aderholt |
Graves (MO) |
Perry |
---- NAYS 196 ---
|
Andrews |
Gallego |
Nolan |
| Bonner Campbell Hunter Larsen (WA) |
Markey McCarthy (NY) Pascrell Rogers (KY) |
Schock Yarmuth |
Still... if we can save 95% or 0%... which is better?
...knows he's in for a very tough re-election fight due to having voted for DeathCare. He's vulnerable.
Well, that’ll stir up the ants.
{ Waving to the the ANThropomorphized termites in the peanut gallery }
“if we can save 95% or 0%” of pro-lifers from becoming morons ... which is better?
I’m waiting for Judie Brown to issue a scathing attack on the Congressmen who voted ‘yes’.
Explain, please.
JUDIE BROWN already attacking this bill 7 1/2 years ago:
Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), with the encouragement of some national pro-life groups, introduced the bill (S.51) in the Senate last week. “Pro-lifers need to wake up and recognize that the more we concede, the further we are from really saving women and children from the tragedy of abortion,” said Brown. “Abortion is a violent act that must never be condoned, supported, promoted or excused. Because of this undeniable truth, American Life League cannot favor such a flawed concept as the one that is represented in the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act.”
God save us from the A.L.L. morons.
http://www.all.org/article/index/id/NDk5/
This vote will mean nothing as far a law getting passed but it will provide an emotional “wedge issue” to keep Pro-Life supporters loyal to the GOP.
Voter guides will be published describing all those who voted for this as “Pro-Life” yet most abortions occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
In the past, the Pro-Life voter guides distributed at election time by the National Right To Life and its affiliates would describe someone who wanted abortion legal early in a pregnancy when 90 percent plus of them occur as “Pro-Abortion”.
Next year those who believe abortion should be legal early in pregnancy and are Pro-Abortion but voted for this will get “Pro-Life” labels put on them by the National Right To Life which has become a tool of the GOP Establishment.
Immoral, unconstitutional, lawless legislation.
Perry has a good image with his military service and promotes himself as a Patriot but I knew him as a loyal party man supporting the machine early in his political life.
He also backed away from supporting an ultrasound before an abortion bill in the state legislature that Pro-Abortion people were crying foul over.
That led to meetings with Pro-Life people to reassure them he was Pro-Life.
But in the early days Perry was loyal lieutenant of both the party chairman in York County (the late John Thompson Sr.) and former State Rep. Bruce Smith who Perry replaced in 2007.
Both those guys were hardcore Pro-Abortion.
by golly, maybe Nextrush is right. All the Representatives who voted ‘yes’ on this bill need to be defeated in 2014.
Make sense, Lex?
You are dead on.
This is a Karl Rove “wedge issue” to keep the religious conservative voters on the GOP plantation.
The Constitution imperatively, explicitly, requires the equal protection of the right to life of every person. No exceptions.
"No person shall be deprived of life without due process of law.""No State shall deprive any person of life without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
And its ultimate stated purpose is "to secure the Blessings of Liberty to Posterity."
Noun Synonyms pos·ter·i·ty
/päˈsteritē/
All future generations.
progeny - issue - offspring
Don't like the Constitution??? Change it.
Abortion is covered under the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Abortion is depriving a human being of life without due process. So it IS covered.
over here on the “pro-life legislation passed today” thread
Abortion is murder. But as evidenced by my previous post, I don't think that conservatives in Congress are serious about the bill, incumbents just using it to win votes for 2014 imo. If it passes the Senate then please send me a note.
Regarding the murder of those already born, and with all due respect to family and supporters of the late Terry Schiavo, the Supreme Court properly regarded her euthenasia as a state power issue imo. But as a consequence of probably not understanding 10th Amendment protected state sovereignty, I would be surprized if Florida voters have worked with their state's lawmakers to make Florida's life & death laws more compassionate for people like Terri.
Again, one of the main reasons that we are having problems with tyrannical federal and state governments is because low-information voters are not aware of the Founding States' division of federal and state government powers evidenced by the Constitution's Section 8 of Article I, Article V and the 10th Amendment.
Jim Matheson voted “AYE”, someone is ascared. Unless I was mistaken in thinking him ‘pro-choice’.
“Republicans who voted against the bill include Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia, Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey, Richard Hanna of New York, Jon Runyan of New Jersey, and Rob Woodall of Georgia.”
What’s up with those GA libertarians? Broun is running for the Senate.
Spurs choked, the LeBums are gonna win.
I don’t know. I haven’t been following the news lately as closely as you have. I’m losing my home.
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