Wednesday, July 31, 2002
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Wednesday, July 31, 2002 |
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Collins on Partial birth WASHINGTON In a major victory for the protection of life, the House of Representatives passed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002 (H.R. 4965) by a vote of 274 to 151. The bill specifically restricts the practice of partial-birth abortion, which as the name implies, involves the partial delivery of a child in the breech position before brutally and painfully killing the infant. Several medical experts, including former Surgeon General C. Everett Coop have testified that the procedure is never necessary for the protection of the mother's health and that the procedure definitely causes severe pain to the baby before it is killed. "This practice is barbaric and not worthy of the most advanced society in the world," said Collins. I was compelled to cosponsor this bill, and pleased that a vast majority of the House of Representatives supported the effort to end this gruesome practice." "While I believe strongly that life begins at conception, even those who do not hold this belief recognize the horrendous nature of partial-birth abortion and voted together to stop it in our country," said Collins. H.R. 4965 provides that an abortionist who violates the ban will be subject to fines or a maximum of two years imprisonment, or both. H.R. 4965 also establishes a civil cause of action for damages against an abortionist who violates the ban. The bill must now be scheduled in the Democrat-controlled Senate before it can reach the President's desk. President Bush has indicated that he will sign a partial birth abortion ban. Congress has passed bans in the past, only to have them vetoed by President Clinton. Even though the House had enough votes to override the President's veto, the Senate was short of the necessary two-thirds super majority needed.
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