House Approves 20-Week Abortion Ban Legislation

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: May 14, 2015

House Approves 20-Week Abortion Ban Legislation

A bill that would ban abortions performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy was approved by the House of Representatives yesterday. Fox News reports the legislation passed at a “near party-line” of 242 to 184. 

The bill, formally called the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, was written to protect babies that can feel the pain of an abortion in the womb. 

Speaker of the House John Boehner, of Ohio, praised the bill as "the most pro-life legislation to ever come before this body.” 

"We should all be proud to take this stand today,” he said. 

Still, the pro-life bill will likely never become law. The Obama administration has already stated its opposition against the legislation, and urged the President to veto the bill. 

A statement from the White House reads, “The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 36, which would unacceptably restrict women’s health and reproductive rights and is an assault on a woman’s right to choose. Women should be able to make their own choices about their bodies and their health care, and Government should not inject itself into decisions best made between a woman and her doctor.
 

“If the President were presented with this legislation, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto this bill.”

Publication date: May 14, 2015



House Approves 20-Week Abortion Ban Legislation