Congress shamefully missed an ideal opportunity to protect unborn babies in January when they shelved the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 36) for reasons that still befuddle any eager pro-lifer. However, today the House is making up for it by debating and voting on a revised version of the bill that would ban abortions at 20 weeks, the point at which science has proven unborn babies can feel pain.
Today’s vote may help to overshadow a more somber anniversary. Late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who ran an abortion ‘House of Horrors’ in Philadelphia, was convicted for murder exactly two years ago for snipping babies' necks when they born alive and other grotesque actions. Justice was served in his case, yet the late-term abortion industry is unfortunately still a very dangerous and very real practice.
Today’s arguments for and against H.R. 36 went back and forth largely between pro-life Republicans and pro-abortion Democrats. Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), who has never been shy about her support for the unborn, wore pink in honor of today’s vote, no doubt to draw attention to the thousands of unborn daughters whose lives are being destroyed in the womb.
“Late-term abortions are agonizingly painful…Americans support protecting these nearly fully developed lives.”
She’s right. A recent Quinnipiac poll proved that Americans want restrictions on the grisly procedure.
One of the day’s most passionate testimonies came from Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI). The pro-life legislator brought in a poster of him and his daughter MariaVictoria, who he calls "Mighty V," the day she was born and offered a bit of eye opening information that demonstrated the inhumanity of late-term abortion.
“The way the law stands today, the day before this picture was taken, it would have been legal to abort Mighty V…What do we stand for in America if we can't stand up for the most defenseless and voiceless among us?”
As you can see, his daughter was born a perfectly healthy newborn baby.
After Duffy offered his heart wrenching testimony, however, you’d think he never even gave one considering how Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) completely ignored him. Slaughter, who spent the day decrying H.R. 36 as unconstitutional and a violation of women, pretended she didn’t hear or see Rep. Duffy and instead decided to address Rep. Foxx’s argument that minors won’t be forced to report sexual assault to law enforcement.
Slaughter wasn’t the only Democrat who seemed to disregard the lifesaving provisions in the Pain-Capable bill. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-NY) was defiant in her rejection of the bill.
“Enough is enough,” she said. “Another painful piece of legislation inflicted on women by people who don’t believe we are smart enough or moral enough.”
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) said the bill is ‘merely a disregard/disrespect for the Constitution,’ and a ‘violation of women’s rights.’
Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) insisted on calling H.R. 36 the “Painful and Oppressive to Women Act.”
Thankfully, their outlandish and unfair ‘war on women’ claims were drowned out by more voices of reason. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a pro-life warrior in the House, echoed his pro-life colleagues by explaining why it was necessary to pass the Pain-Capable legislation.
“This bill is needed more than ever," Smith said. "There are Gosnells all over America dismembering unborn babies for profit.”
He meant abortionists like LeRoy Carhart, who once proved he had no regard for life by comparing an unborn baby to “meat in a crockpot.” What are we left to believe except that these abortionists are in it for the profit?
The Pain-Capable vote will take place later this afternoon. Stay put at Townhall as we bring you more coverage on the important legislation.