Congressional Action Alert: The Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act Needs Your Help!

WASHINGTON (August 3, 2004) - - A bill that spotlights the pain inflicted on unborn children by abortion is gathering support in Congress, but needs a boost from grassroots pro-life citizens. The chief sponsors of the bill say that additional cosponsors must be gathered if the bill is to have any chance of receiving formal action during the few weeks remaining in the current congressional session.

The Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act was introduced on May 20 by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Senator Sam Brownback (R-Ks.), with strong backing from NRLC.

Since then, the House bill (H.R. 4420) has gathered 64 cosponsors (out of 435 House members), while the Senate bill (S. 2466) has attracted 24 cosponsors (out of 100 senators).

Congress is in recess during August. Lawmakers will reconvene after Labor Day, on September 7. But Congress is only scheduled to remain in session for about four weeks, before adjourning in early October so that lawmakers can go home and campaign for the November 2 election.

A surge of grassroots pressure for the bill would make it a better candidate for action before Congress adjourns, Congressman Smith explained.

"I am hoping that we can quickly break the 100-cosponsor mark," Smith told NRL News. "It would be very helpful if pro-life citizens would speak to their representatives about this bill as the lawmakers make public appearances in their districts in August and early September."

Senator Brownback concurred, saying, "The more senators hear about this bill from their constituents between now and Labor Day, the more cosponsors we will gain, and the better our chances become for breaking through the obstacles that the pro-abortion side will place in its path."