H.R. 1797 & S. 1670 – The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

H.R. 1797, the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, would bar post-20-week abortions except in cases of reported rape or incest or where a pregnancy poses a physical threat to the mother’s life.

S. 1670 is the Senate version of the measure. It has slightly different wording, but contains the same basic elements as H.R. 1797.

The bill is based on scientific research showing that unborn babies are capable of feeling pain at 20 weeks of development.

H.R. 1797, as introduced, applied only to abortions performed in the District of Columbia. In light of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell’s multiple-murder convictions, the bill’s sponsor, Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-8), decided to amend his bill so that its protections would apply nationwide. That amendment, in the form of a substitute bill, was adopted at a mark-up session of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice on June 4.

The Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act has been approved by the House of Representatives and is now before the Senate.

Text

The text of H.R. 1797, as passed by the House, is available at https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/house-bill/1797/text?q={%22search%22:[%22pain%20capable%20unborn%20child%20protection%20act%22]}

The text of S. 1670 is available at https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/senate-bill/1670/text

Co-Sponsors

H.R. 1797 is sponsored by Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-8) and has 184 co-sponsors. A list of the co-sponsors may be found at https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/house-bill/1797/cosponsors?q={%22search%22:[%22pain%20capable%20unborn%20child%20protection%20act%22]}

S. 1670 is sponsored by Senator Lindsay Graham (SC) and has 40 co-sponsors. A list of the co-sponsors may be found at https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th/senate-bill/1670/cosponsors

Status

H.R. 1797

4-26-13 H.R. 1797 introduced and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

5-23-13 The Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice held a hearing on H.R. 1797.

6-4-13 The Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice voted 6-4 to adopt Congressman Trent Franks’s amendment in the form of a substitute bill.

6-12-13 The Judiciary Committee voted 20-12 to approve the bill and send it to the House floor for consideration.

6-18-13 The House voted 228-196 to pass H.R. 1797 and send it to the Senate for consideration.

6-19-13 Received by the Senate and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S. 1670

11-7-13 Introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Statements

H.R. 1797

5-23-13 Video of opening statement by Congressman Franks at Subcommittee on the
Constitution and Civil Justice hearing is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb6inBbTKas&feature=youtu.be

5-23-13 Testimony of Anthony Levatino, M.D., before the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice

5-23-13 Testimony of Maureen L. Condic, Ph.D., University of Utah, School of Medicine, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, before the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice

5-23-13 Testimony of Jill Stanek, R.N., before the Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice

6-12-13 Video of statement by Congressman Trent Franks (AZ -8) at Judiciary Committee hearing is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kGiSJ_PISk

6-12-13 Video of statement by Congressman Doug Collins (GA-9) at Judiciary Committee hearing is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLhWmyEzfrE

6-18-13 Video statement of Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) presenting the bill on the House floor – Part One is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmxWE4tvRBE&feature=youtu.be. Part Two is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlDFDChGqfM

6-18-13 A list of videos of statements made by Members of Congress in support of H.R. 1797 on the House floor is available at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?feature=edit_ok&list=PLytHy7PQxOT7FbJzwuMerssN5mEfVcqHj

S. 1670

11-7-13 Statement and press release by Senator Lindsay Graham upon introduction of S.1690 may be found at https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=334fc324-eb10-8ba9-c57f-d6753d4b3ed3

4-29-14 Senators Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte issued a “Dear Colleague” letter signed by 31 other Senators urging Majority Leader Harry Reid to allow a vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. The letter may be found at https://www.sba-list.org/sites/default/files/content/shared/05.07.14_ayotte_dear_colleague_pain_capable_unborn_child_protection_act_0.pdf

5-13-14 Press release by Senator Lindsey Graham noting the first anniversary of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell’s murder conviction and calling on Majority Leader Harry Reid to allow a vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act may be found at https://www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=aabff16b-e06c-0864-5258-cfe41d5ec818

Priests for Life Statements

June 4, 2012: Priests for Life team to walk the halls of Congress

August 2, 2012: A Word to "Pro-Choice" lawmakers: The voters are watching

May 17, 2013: Fr. Frank Applauds Bill to Protect Pain-Capable Children

May 21, 2013: Priests for Life: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act "Most Significant Legislative Step Forward"

May 23, 2013: A painless step forward in abortion policy: Column

June 19, 2013: Fr Pavone applauds House for ban on late-term abortion

July 15, 2013: Should Dismemberment be Legal?

August 5, 2013: National Day of Remembrance

September 9, 2013: September 14 is a day of remembrance for aborted children

October 21, 2013: The US Senate and the Greatest Scandal of All

November 4, 2103: Priests for Life Calls on Senators to Support Pro-life Bill