* A bill proposed by Congresswoman Diane Black (R-Tn.) would place a moratorium on federal funding to the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. National Right to Life will strongly support passage of Congresswoman Black’s bill.
The second bill, the “Born-Aliv e Abortion Survivors Protection Act,” sponsored by Congressman Trent Franks (R-Az.), is a new proposal that would provide strong new protections for babies born alive during induced abortions — backed by stringent federal criminal penalties and civil remedies. There is substantial evidence that some abortion providers do not treat such born-alive infants as legally protected persons, and although in theory they are protected by state homicide laws, enforcement of such laws in the abortion context is rare. Longstanding concerns about the fate of infants born alive during abortions have been revived by troubling passages in the hidden-camera videos released by the Center for Medical Progress, some of which were cited by NRLC General Counsel James Bopp, Jr., during his September 9 testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. NRLC will strongly support the “Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.”
In addition, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has indicated that he will soon — quite likely, before the end of September — force a Senate vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (S. 1553). This legislation is based on a model bill originated by NRLC in 2010, which has since been enacted in 12 states. The House of Representatives passed this legislation on May 13, by a vote of 242-184. The upcoming Senate vote will be the first time that the Senate has cast a vote on limiting late abortions since 2003, when the Senate gave final approval to the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act.
Click here for the originating article from National Right to Life.
