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Vote Expected April 25 or 26 U.S. House to Vote on Bill to Recognize Unborn Children As Crime Victims.(National Right to Life Committee)
WASHINGTON (April 4) - - The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote April 25 or 26 on the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, an NRLC-backed bill that would legally recognize unborn children as victims when they are injured or killed during the commission of federal crimes of violence.
Pro-life forces expect a very close vote on a substitute bill, backed by pro-abortion groups, that would increase punishments for federal crimes in which a woman's "pregnancy" is interfered with, but which would also enact into law the doctrine that the pregnant woman is the only victim in such a crime.
The Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 503) is sponsored by Congressman Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The same bill has been introduced in the Senate at S. 480 by Senator Mike DeWine (R-Ohio).
The legislation would establish that if a criminal injures or kills an "unborn child" (or "child, who is in utero") during commission of any of 68 federal crimes, he may be charged for the harm he has done to the unborn victim. The bill provides that it covers every "member of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb."
Under current federal statutes, unborn children are not recognized as victims of crimes, even when the child dies. On March 15, the House Judiciary Constitution Subcommittee, chaired by pro-life Congressman Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), held a hearing at which testimony was heard regarding several cases in which unborn children were killed during the commission of federal crimes, including some crimes in which the unborn children were the specific targets of the attacks.
The bill does not cover legal abortions or harmful acts performed by a woman on her own unborn child (for example, drug use). Nevertheless, the bill is opposed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL), the ACLU, and other pro-abortion groups.
For example, in a March 21 statement, PPFA President Gloria Feldt said the bill would "erode the foundation of Roe v. Wade."
- Unborn Child's Slaying in Arkansas a Rallying Cry for Congress to Provide...
- Press release article from: PR Newswire September 3, 1999 700+ words
...charges when an unborn child 12 weeks or older...Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 2436...that provide the unborn child with a similar...Unborn Victims of Violence Act would address...to protect the unborn child from criminal...Unborn Victims of ...
- House passes bill punishing violence to unborn child.(Nation)
- Newspaper article from: The Washington Times Hudson, Audrey April 27, 2001 700+ words
...to harm or kill an unborn child in the course of assaulting...the Unborn Victims of Violence Act," President Bush...mean we consider the unborn child an enemy," Mr. Graham...the assault on the unborn child as a separate crime...
- Debate on rights of unborn child tied to abortion.
- Newspaper article from: Newsday (Melville, NY) September 19, 2007 700+ words
...for causing the injury or death of a child in utero. New York lawmakers earlier this year proposed an "unborn victim of violence act," which would similarly allow for the prosecution of crimes against a fetus, but the bill has not yet been acted upon...
- Urge U.S. House Members to Approve Unborn Victims of Violence Act!(Brief...
- Magazine article from: National Right to Life News August 10, 1999 700+ words
...Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Background Currently...however, an unborn child who is injured...recognizes the unborn child as a member of...Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 2436...causes to the unborn child. Enactment of the Unborn Victims of ...
- Urge U.S. House Members to Approve Unborn Victims of Violence Act!(Unborn...
- Magazine article from: National Right to Life News July 6, 1999 700+ words
...Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 2436...injures or kills her unborn child, the assailant...recognizes the unborn child as a member of...Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 2436...causes to the unborn child. Enactment of the Unborn Victims of ...
- Congressional Action Alert: The Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act Needs Your Help!
- Magazine article from: National Right to Life News August 1, 2004 700+ words
...current congressional session. The Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act was introduced on...Representatives has cosponsored the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act. If he or she has...he cosponsor the H.R. 4420, the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, and say that you...
- FRC Calls on Congress to Pass 'Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act'; 'Science is...
- Press release article from: PR Newswire January 26, 2005 700+ words
...and Rep. Chris Smith's (R-NJ) "Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act" legislation...utero technology, we now know that the unborn child experiences excruciating pain when he...have a right to know the pain their unborn child will experience during an abortion...
- State Also Passes Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act: Abortion Numbers Drop in...
- Magazine article from: National Right to Life News August 1, 2005 700+ words
...items for this legislative session: the Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act, as part of the...of abortion," Fischbach said. The Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act would require that...administration of pain-reducing drugs to their unborn child prior to an abortion. The ability of...
Source: HighBeam Research, Vote Expected April 25 or 26 U.S. House to Vote on Bill to Recognize...