U.S. House passes Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

On May 13th, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36) by a vote of 242 to 184.  This legislation would generally ban abortion after 20 weeks of fetal age (or 22 weeks of pregnancy) based on congressional findings that unborn children of that age are capable of feeling pain.

The measure passed in a 242-to-184 vote, with one member voting present. The bill dropped a provision in the original version that would have required women who became pregnant through rape to report their assault to law enforcement authorities to be eligible for an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Under the new bill, such women would have to receive counseling or medical treatment at least 48 hours before having an abortion. In cases involving minors, abortion providers would have to alert the authorities for the girls’ protection, it says. The bill, known as the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, would also make it easier to sue a noncompliant abortion provider.

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