HR 3803 – The District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-2) has introduced legislation to bar the abortion of unborn babies in the District of Columbia who are at least 20 weeks old, except to save the life of the mother. The prohibition is based on the unborn child’s ability to feel pain no later than 20 weeks after fertilization.

The District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is similar to state laws now in effect in Nebraska, Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma. None of these laws have faced legal challenges.

Text: The complete text of HR 3803 may be found at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3803::

Co-sponsors: HR 3803 has 193 co-sponsors.

Status

1-23-12 Introduced and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

1-25-12 House Judiciary Committee refers the bill to its Subcommittee on the Constitution and its Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security

5-17-12 Subcommittee on the Constitution hearing