National Right to Life Unveils Major District of Columbia Abortion Restriction Bill

On the anniversary of the January 22, 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the National Right to Life Committee unveiled a major new piece of legislation. The District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, authored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.),would prohibit abortions after a child has the capability to feel pain, at approximately 20 weeks gestation.

Commenting on his bill, Franks said, “It would address the pain and suffering of children who have done nothing wrong. It will emphasize the humanity of the child and the inhumanity of what is being done to them.”

Abortion proponents are gearing up to fight this bill which is in prime position for a fast track to the House floor since Franks is chairman of the House Judiciary subcommittee which will process the legislation, and because two powerful committee chairmen — Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) of Judiciary and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) of Oversight — are co-sponsoring the measure.

The bill is based on model legislation drafted and promoted by the National Right to Life Committee, the parent organization of Wisconsin Right to Life. Similar state bills have already passed in Alabama, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma and have avoided court challenges. Wisconsin Right to Life strongly supports this initiative and will be assisting with its passage in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Read the Washington Post article on the bill here.

Barbara Lyons