Rep. Kelly Calls for Passage of Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
Bill will ban abortion after 5 months into pregnancy
Rep. Kelly: “We have to protect the unborn
because they cannot protect themselves”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) delivered remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives today in support of H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which will federally ban almost all abortions from being performed beyond the 20th week of a pregnancy, when the unborn child is able to feel pain, with an exception for instances of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is at stake. The legislation is expected to be passed by the House this evening.
Rep. Kelly’s floor speech:
“We have to do this, and I’m going to tell you why:
“Because scientific evidence now shows that unborn babies can feel pain by 20 weeks post-fertilization, and likely even earlier;
“Because a late term abortion is an excruciatingly painful and inhumane act against children waiting to be born and their mothers;
“Because women terminating pregnancies at 20 weeks are 35 times more likely to die from abortion than they are in the first trimester, and 91 times more likely to die from abortion at 21 weeks or beyond;
“Because, after five months into a pregnancy, the baby is undeniably a living, growing human and government’s first duty is to protect innocence life;
“Because overwhelmingly, most Americans – and I’m talking about men and women, young and old – support legislation to protect these innocent people;
“Because the hideous case of Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia is a brutal reminder of what can occur without this type of legislation in place.
“I want to tell my colleagues: Just think of how little effort it would be today to take your voting card out, put it in the machine, and press on the green button. And by doing that, you are saying ‘yes’ to protecting the most vulnerable people of our society from going through unbelievable amounts of pain.
“Isn’t it amazing that in America’s House we have to pass legislation to protect the most innocent life? This is incredible that we have to even come forward and debate this.
“My goodness, this is just so intuitive of who we are, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as human beings. We have to protect the unborn because they cannot protect themselves. Vote ‘yes’ on this today. Let’s make sure that our children are not subjected to this pain and that their mothers are not subjected to the same pain and the resulting loss of life.”
NOTE: This legislation is being considered on the second anniversary of the murder conviction of abortionist Kermit Gosnell.
More information about H.R. 36 and fetal pain can be found here, here, and here.
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