The
U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation yesterday to end one
of the most extreme pro-abortion policies in the world by limiting
abortions after 20 weeks gestation based on the unborn child's ability
to feel pain. H.R. 36, the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act", sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks, was passed on the 2nd
anniversary of the conviction of abortionist and murderer Kermit
Gosnell, who horrified the nation with his 'House of Horrors' in
Philadelphia where he brutally killed born alive infants with scissors
to the spinal cord. The brutality of Gosnell's crimes demonstrated the
reality of what happens to unborn babies aborted at five months, who
have a chance to survive premature birth.
The "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act" passed by a vote of 242-184-1,
238 Republicans and 4 Democrats (Cuellar, Langevin, Lipinski and
Peterson) voted yes and 180 Democrats and 4 Republicans (Dent, Dold,
Frelinghuysen, Hanna) voted no with one Republican (Hice) voting
present.
Speaker of the House John Boehner voiced his support for bill
and called it "the most pro-life legislation to ever come before this
body" adding "and it reflects the will of the American people." He spoke
about his own background as evidence of his deep personal pro-life
commitment explaining:
"My
colleagues, growing up with 11 brothers and sisters, I didn't need my
parents to tell me that every child is a gift from God. But let me tell
you, they did - early and often. Because that respect - that sanctity
and dignity - is everything. A vote for this bill is a vote to protect
innocent lives and protect our dearest values for generations to come.
We should all be proud to take this stand today."
Opinion
polls consistently demonstrate that nearly 60% of Americans oppose the
inhumane practice of late term abortion. According to the Congressional Budget Office each year an estimated 11,000 abortions are performed on preborn children after 20 weeks.
The
legislation creates new protections for unborn children, including the
presence of a second doctor during the abortion in the event the baby is
born alive and in need of life-saving medical care. The woman must be
given information about her unborn baby's age, how the abortion will be
performed, and the fact that if born alive, the child is entitled to
medical care. The law provides counseling and assistance for victims of
rape and incest and requires all abortions after 20 weeks be reported to
the National Center for Health Statistics.
Many congressional pro-life leaders spoke during debate on the rule to allow the bill to be considered and on passage of H.R.36, delivering impassioned and compelling statements. Lead sponsor Rep Trent Franks declared, "It
is the greatest human rights atrocity in the United States today, and
almost every other civilized nation on Earth protects pain-capable
unborn babies, at this age particularly. And every credible poll of
Americans shows the American people are overwhelmingly in favor of
protecting them, yet we have given these little babies less legal
protection from unnecessary cruelty than the protection we have given
farm animals under the Federal Humane Slaughter Act."
Pro-Life Caucus Co-Chairman Rep. Chris Smith detailed aspects of H.R. 36
and highlighted the duplicity that exists when a baby is treated
in-utero and when an unborn baby that same age is aborted. Smith quoted
the testimony of Dr Anand, at the University of Tennessee, who in a U.S. Department of Justice report stated, "It
is my opinion that the human fetus possesses the ability to experience
pain from 20 weeks of gestation, if not earlier, and the pain perceived
by a fetus is possibly more intense than that perceived by term newborns
or older children." Smith asserted, "...the babies we seek to
protect from harm today may survive if treated humanely, with expertise
and compassion-not the cruelty of the abortion."
Rep. Diane Black, a former emergency room nurse, managed the bill for the Republican leadership and wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Times, "Pain-capable opponents ignore science":
"It
is difficult to imagine a more important measure of a society than how
it treats its most innocent and defenseless population. By condoning the
destruction of unborn life that could otherwise live outside the womb,
the United States tragically fails to meet this most fundamental human
rights standard. Basic decency and human compassion demands that
something has to change.
Polls
consistently show that upward of 60 percent of Americans support
putting an end to the dangerous and inhumane practice of late-term
abortions. Those numberswill only increase as hearts and minds are made
aware of the pain that these babies experience during abortion and the
evidence supporting their viability at increasingly early stages of
development."
Rep. Sean Duffy
passionately challenged pro-abortion members during the debate to stand
up and vote to protect the most defenseless from the pain of abortion: "If
you stand with the defenseless, with the voiceless, you have to stand
with little babies. Don't talk to me about cruelty in our bill - when
you look at little babies being dismembered, feeling excruciating pain,
if we can't stand to defend these children, what do we stand for in this
institution?"
Rep. Mia Love
had not planned on requesting time to speak during debate but took to
the Floor after listening to Members who opposed the bill. She expressed
her disappointment that there was even "opposition to this piece of
legislation" and referenced how adults protect children, have a voice
and can object to things but that the babies who can feel pain do not
have a voice. Rep. Love asked every American watching to think of the
children that they love and ask themselves "would they inflict this kind
of pain to prevent them from coming into this world?" She implored her
colleagues to remember their duty to protect life, "We have a moral obligation to protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is time we do our job."
President Obama
vowed to veto the bill if it came to his desk, saying the bill is an
"assault on a woman's right to choose" which "would unacceptably
restrict women's health and reproductive rights" while his press
secretary, Josh Earnest, called the bill "disgraceful".
Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton also expressed opposition to the bill in a statement issued by her campaign, "It
also follows a dangerous trend we are witnessing across the country. In
just the first three months of 2015, more than 300 bills have been
introduced in state legislatures - on top of the nearly 30 measures
introduced in Congress - that restrict access to abortion." On twitter Clinton extolled the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decisions that legalized abortion on demand throughout pregnancy: "When it comes to women's health, there are two kinds of experts: women and their doctors. True 40+ years ago, true today. -H"
Pro-life activists staged a tweetfest the day of the vote using the hashtags #HR36 and #Theyfeelpain.
Video clips of Member speeches can be viewed as follows:
Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-LA) @RepAbraham video
Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) @Robert_Aderholt video
Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) @RepBrianBabin video
Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA) @RepLouBarletta release
Rep. Dan Benishek (R-MI) @CongressmanDan video
Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) @RepDianeBlack video release op-ed
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) @MarshaBlackburn release
Speaker Boehner (R-OH) @SpeakerBoehner video release1 release2
Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA) @RepBoustany video
Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL)@RepByrne release
Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) @RepKevinCramer video release
Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) @RepSeanDuffy video
Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) @RepFleming video release
Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) @RepBillFlores release
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) @JeffFortenberry video
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) @RepVirginiaFoxx video
House Bill Sponsor Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) @RepTrentFranks video1 video2 release
Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) @Rep. Bob Gibbs release
Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) video release
Senate Bill Sponsor Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) release
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) @RepAndyHarris video
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) @RepHartzler video
Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) @CongHuelskamp video
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) @RepWalterJones release
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) @MikeKellyPA video release
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) @SteveKingIA video
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) @RepDLamborn video
Senator James Lankford (R-OK) @SenatorLankford post
Rep. Mia Love (R-UT) @RepMiaLove video
Majority Leader McCarthy (R-CA) @GOPLeader release
GOP Conference Chair McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) @cathymcmorris, @HouseGOP video release
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) @RepMarkMeadows release
Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV) @RepAlexMooney video
Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) @RandyNeugebauer release
Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD) @RepKristiNoem video
Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL) @USRepGaryPalmer release
Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) @RepJoePitts video release
Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL) @RepMarthaRoby video
Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA) @KeithRothfus video
Majority Whip Scalise (R-LA) @SteveScalise video release
Pro-life Caucus Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ) @RepChrisSmith video1 video2 release
Rep. Glen "GT" Thompson (R-PA) @CongressmanGT video
Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) @RepAnnWagner video release
Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC) @RepMarkWalker video
Rep. Jacki Walorski (R-IN) @RepWalorski video
Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA) @RepMimiWalters video
Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) @RepBradWenstrup release
Senate consideration of H.R. 36, the next step in the legislative process, has not yet been scheduled.