The House, she said, “should not be making decisions for the women in America.”
The bill comes as the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a major abortion case in December, on Mississippi’s law restricting most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court will consider the question of whether all bans on pre-viability abortions are unconstitutional – possibly setting the stage to alter or reverse the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.
Pro-life leaders on Friday said the pro-abortion legislation was extreme.
“If Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and their allies get their way, the United States will soon be indistinguishable from North Korea and China on the human rights issue of abortion,” said Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life.
“For the first time ever by congressional statute, this legislation would legally enable the death – the violent death - of unborn baby girls and boys by dismemberment, decapitation, forced expulsion from the womb, and deadly poisons, for any reason until birth,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus.
“This bill will nullify every modest pro-life restriction ever enacted by the states,” he added.
Dannenfelser noted it is “rather unlikely” that the bill “would even get a vote in the Senate.”
“For those of us who stand for life, we must do a better job of listening and loving,” said Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-Wash.) on the House floor on Friday. “I can imagine abortion seeming like an easy solution,” she said, adding that it “breaks my heart” for those who think abortion is their “best option” or “only option.”
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) stated that he “proudly voted no” on the bill.
“I encourage those who stand with me to look up your local pregnancy resource center today and see what you can do to help out.”
Matt Hadro was the political editor at Catholic News Agency through October 2021. He previously worked as CNA senior D.C. correspondent and as a press secretary for U.S. Congressman Chris Smith.