US House of Representatives
On January 22, the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Congress will vote on H.R. 36 the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.” The bill bans abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy based on medical science that clearly affirms by 20 weeks gestation the child both experiences and reacts to the pain of abortion.
A similar bill was filed in 2013 by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), but was changed by Republican leadership at the last moment to include rape and incest exceptions. The difference-this bill already has exceptions entrenched in its language.
“The exception betrays the whole premise of the sanctity of human life upon which the pro-life movement is built-that ALL human life is precious,” wrote Molly Smith, President of Cleveland Right to Life, in her public statement urging her Representatives to oppose the bill until it can be corrected.
Pro-lifers around the nation are banding together asking the GOP led Congress and Senate to vote for pro-life legislation that hasn’t been tainted with exceptions and compromises, as well as soliciting the help of national pro-life groups who have supported the flawed language.
“This a message bill,” said Dan Becker, President of Personhood Alliance. “The president has already vowed to veto the bill, so why, in a Republican led Congress and Senate, send out a message that fails to embrace the essence of the pro-life movement.”
Other pro-life organizations such as Save the 1, Pro-life Wisconsin, New Hampshire Right to Life PAC, Personhood Florida, Living Exceptions, Georgia Right to Life, Alaska Right to Life and Right to Life North East Ohio are calling out the GOP for not even attempting a message that is pro-life.
“We feel pain too,” said Rebecca Kiessling, President of Save the 1, who was conceived in rape. “All of us at Save The 1 are very disappointed to see that our people group is once again targeted and devalued.”
Pro-lifers are all calling for a message that stops marginalizing pre-born babies based on political expediency. They are asking pro-lifers across the nation to call their congressman to vote against this bill and urge them to support true pro-life legislation that puts out a true pro-life message.
Personhood Florida Vice President pointed out, “The message of this bill is there are some victims that aren’t worth saving. That’s not a message we should send.”
Christopher Kurka, Executive Director of Alaska Right to Life, even stated: “Alaska Right to Life stands in opposition to the Federal Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and recommends a ‘no’ vote to every life-loving member of Congress.”
“These exceptions are discriminatory and a gross denial of equal protection under the law,” released Matt Sande, Director of Legislation for Pro-life Wisconsin. “They are a fundamental rejection of the personhood of the preborn child; the very thing we are decrying on yet another anniversary of Roe.”
“If this bill is about making a statement, why would we ignore children conceived in rape, and children before 20 weeks?” asked Gualberto Garcia Jones, Policy Director for Personhood Alliance. “If we are going to make a pro-life statement, lets make it a statement of what the pro-life movement actually believes in.”
