HOUSE BANS ABORTIONS AFTER 20 WEEKS

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By Meg Jensen

June 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County ) – Fueling criticisms of a Republican “war on women,” the GOP-controlled House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1797, a bill that would outlaw abortions after 20 weeks in all 50 states.

Nationwide, only 1.1% of abortions occur after 21 weeks; 98.9% are done before 21 weeks. Supporters of the bill contend that it would prevent fetuses from feeling pain.  Opponents voice concerns over the bill taking away the option for parents to terminate a pregnancy when tests available only in the later stages of pregnancy show severe fetal abnormalities.

For example, one woman chose late term abortion after one conjoined twin died and she learned that the other baby had no face and no way to eat or breathe, Huffington Post reported in an article titled “The Inconvenient Truths (for Both Sides) About Late Term Abortions.” 

The bill provides no options for terminating even the most severely deformed fetus, such as in cases of anencephaly, a condition in which a baby develops without part of the brain or skull. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in every 4,859 babies born has anencephaly and such infants have virtually no chance of surviving. The condition often cannot be diagnosed until late in pregnancy or sometimes, at birth.

The bill provides an exception to save a mother’s life, but not her health.  An amendment was adopted that provides an exception for victims of rape or incest, but only if they have reported crimes to authorities—a situation that often does not occur when, for example, a teen is raped by her father or another relative.

Ironically, a 1988 Guttmacher survey of women who had abortions after 16 weeks found that the top two reasons were a woman didn’t realize she was pregnant or misjudged how far along she was (77%), followed by 48% who found it hard to make arrangements for abortion. Laws passed to restrict abortion in some states, such as waiting periods or court approval requirements for minors without parental consent, actually result in abortions delayed to later stages. If later stage abortions are banned, some women may have no options to terminate their pregnancies.

The National Organization for Women  has denounced the bill as unconstitutional. “This bill represents the most restrictive abortion legislation to come to a vote in either chamber over the past decade and is a clear violation of Roe v. Wade,” NOW’s website states.

The National Right to Life Committee praised the bill’s passage. "Nobody has a good handle on how many late abortions are really occurring, but there is growing evidence that they are far more common than most people want to think, said RLC president Carol Tobias.

The NRLC and other supporters of the bill have cited the case of Kermit Gosnell, a physician found to have performed numerous late-term abortions on healthy fetuses.  Such abortions were already illegal under federal law, however, and Gosnell was sentenced to life in prison without parole for seven counts of murder.

The bill stands no chance of becoming law, since the Democratic-controlled Senate has indicated it will not bring the measure to a vote. Moreover, President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the measure should it reach his desk.

“Forty years ago, the Supreme Court affirmed a woman's constitutional right to privacy, including the right to choose. This bill is a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade and shows contempt for women's health and rights, the role doctors play in their patients' health care decisions, and the Constitution,” a statement issued by the President said. “The Administration is continuing its efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies, expand access to contraception, support maternal and child health, and minimize the need for abortion. At the same time, the Administration is committed to the protection of women's health and reproductive freedom and to supporting women and families in the choices they make.”

Among local representatives, Democrats Susan Davis, Juan Vargas and Scott Peters voted against the measure.  Republican Darrell Issa voted in favor.

 Republican Duncan D. Hunter abstained from voting. Hunter has previously authored a bill that would have outlawed all abortions, with no exceptions even for the life of the mother.

 

 

 


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