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House Passes Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

On October 3, the House passed, 237-189, H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. An identical bill was passed by the House in 2015; however, the Senate rejected the legislation (see The Source, 9/25/15).

The bill would ban abortions “at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy,” except in cases of rape or incest, or to save the mother’s life. The measure would impose criminal penalties on medical professionals acting in violation of the ban, but would not allow prosecution of pregnant women having such an abortion.