Congressman Slams Late-Term Abortions: “430 Abortion Clinics in the U.S. Abort Unborn Children 20 Weeks or Older”

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Oct 3, 2017   |   12:56PM   |   Washington, DC

Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03) spoke on the House floor today about his support for H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

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Text of the speech follows:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This bill would prohibit any elective abortion attempt on an unborn child who is 20 weeks or older, the age at which research shows us children are able to feel pain.

“I think it is worth noting that this landmark legislation is projected to save between 12,000 and 18,000 lives each year. These are lives of individuals who will become fathers, mothers, technological innovators, service-members, and hard-working contributors to our great nation.

“Ten years ago, studies began to emerge proving that an unborn child is able to feel pain as early as 20 weeks post-fertilization. So, as our nation’s understanding of fetal pain has become more advanced, protections for pain-capable unborn children have been signed into law in 20 states, including my home state of Indiana.

“But this is not enough. Despite claims from many pro-abortion groups, late term abortion is neither safe or, unfortunately, rare.

“As recently as 2014, it was estimated that 430 abortion facilities in the United States were willing to perform abortions on unborn children 20 weeks and older.

“This sort of late-term abortion, at the point when the child can actually feel the procedure, will continue to happen without a federal prohibition.

“60% of women, 56% of independents, and 46% of democrats support this sort of legislation. It has broad support.

“Let’s ensure all 50 states have protections for vulnerable pain-capable children.

“I have advocated for these protections my entire career, from the Statehouse in Indiana to here, in the United States Congress.

“I express my strong support for the passage of H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, introduced by Congressman Trent Franks of Arizona.

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker – I yield back.”