Pro-Abortion Senators Propose Bill; To Invalidate Limits on Abortion.

WASHINGTON (February 4, 2004) - - Leading pro-abortion members of Congress have introduced a new bill that would invalidate all federal, state, and local limitations on access to abortion.

At a press conference in the U.S. Capitol, hosted by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Ca.), the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" (FOCA) was endorsed by leaders of NARAL, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the National Abortion Federation, NOW, and other groups.

The Senate bill, introduced on January 22, is S. 2020. A day earlier, the same legislation was introduced in the House by Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) as H.R. 3719.

The promoters of the bill said that it would write into statutory law the provisions of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. But the plain language of the bill, as well as the explanations of the sponsors, show that the measure would invalidate the types of pro-life policies that the Supreme Court has allowed under Roe v. Wade.

"The claim that the bill would `codify Roe' is just a marketing gimmick," explained NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson. "The sponsors hope that lazy journalists and editorial writers will adopt that vague shorthand phrase, even though the sponsors have already admitted that the bill would nullify the types of abortion laws that the Supreme Court has said are permitted under Roe v. Wade."

"There are very few nations that have abortion policies as extreme as Roe v. Wade, but this bill is even more extreme," agreed John Cusey, staff director for the House Pro-Life Caucus.

By its actual language, the bill would invalidate any "statute, ordinance, regulation, administrative order, decision, policy, practice, or other action" of any federal, state, or local government or governmental official (or any person acting under government authority) that would "deny or interfere with" a woman's right to abortion.