Pain-Capable bill passes US House

Yesterday the House passed H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which 9th District Congressman Doug Collins co-sponsored.

Fifteen states, including Georgia, have passed laws that parallel this federal bill, while many others now allow providers to do abortions on older babies. Rep. Collins said

When modern medicine leads doctors to administer anesthesia to children at 20 weeks’ gestation, basic integrity gives us no way to ignore their personhood. Science leaves us no room to justify their slaughter, and our founding fathers leave us no path to disregard their right to life. Every liberty that my colleagues and I fight for is predicated on our right to life, and this bill ensures that unborn, pain-capable individuals enjoy this most basic of our American freedoms. By passing the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, we recognize and defend humanity at its most vulnerable, and I’m thankful to have the opportunity to help move this bill forward today.

Georgia’s 6th District Representative Karen Handel lead the floor debate on this legislation marking the freshman’s first time in that role. In opening the floor debate Rep. Handel said, 

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, also known as Micah’s Law.  This bill prohibits most elective abortions at 20 weeks after fertilization.  That’s the beginning of the 5th month of pregnancy — that’s the point in a pregnancy when a substantial body of medical evidence shows that a baby in the womb can feel pain.

In closing the House debate Congresswoman Handel succinctly summarized the key debate points:

Mr. Speaker, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act reflects today’s medical understanding about a baby’s ability to feel pain.  Micah’s Law reflects the changed hearts and minds of Americans.  Micah’s Law reflects the higher aspirations of this nation to foster a culture of life. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 36.

The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration, and President Trump has said that he will sign the bill into law.

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