The House voted to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act Tuesday evening in a 237-189 vote, marking a huge victory for the pro-life movement.
The bill states that no unborn baby past 20 weeks gestation can be aborted, except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. Abortion providers that violate the law will be penalized and could be sentenced to five years in prison.
Before the vote, representatives engaged in heated debate over the bill. Allowing unborn babies to be aborted after 20 weeks “violates our most enduring values,” Illinois Rep. Randy Hultgren said on the House floor. “Unborn babies are not just a blob of tissue,” Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt added.
The vote comes after the House adopted the rules governing the Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act in a 233-287 vote earlier Tuesday afternoon.
Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin disagreed with the bill, calling it “unconstitutional.” She labeled it as a “cruel and ruthless attempt to undermine women,” and added that the act is a crusade against women’s health care.
“The Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act will protect the voiceless, the vulnerable, and the marginalized. It will protect those children who science has proven can feel pain, and give them a chance to grow and live full and happy lives,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said in a statement prior to the vote. (RELATED: House To Vote On Banning Abortions For Babies Who Can Feel Pain).
The bill had been introduced multiple times between 2013 and 2016, but failed to pass the Senate each time, falling short of the 60 votes required.
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