One of the most overlooked human rights issues is the excruciating pain an unborn baby experiences when abortions are performed, especially at 20 weeks of gestation or later. To help women seeking abortions to better understand this reality, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the pro-life caucus in Congress, has reintroduced the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act, H.R. 3442.
This bill requires abortion providers to fully inform the patient of the medical evidence that the unborn child feels pain and to offer the patient anesthesia for the unborn baby if she chooses to proceed with the abortion.
©iStockphoto.com/Amy Burgess
LifeNews.com reports, "Dr. Jean Wright, Professor and Chair of Pediatrics at the Mercer School of Medicine, previously told Congress that premature infants born after 23 to 26 weeks of pregnancy feel intense pain when blood is drawn from them. 'We roll back the sheets or the blanket, and you would look to the facial expression, their response to the heel stick, and you would understand,' she said. 'You would not need a congressional hearing to figure out whether that infant feels pain .'"
It would seem that even those who are strongly "pro-choice," could find common ground on this medically reasonable piece of legislation. However, history tells us otherwise. The last time the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act was voted on, 162 members of Congress voted against it. Back in December of 2006 the bill was approved by a vote of 250 to 162; however, it was brought to a vote using a special rule that required a two-thirds vote to pass.
The good news is that H.R. 3442, which was introduced just days ago, already has 107 sponsors. Click here to see if your representative is one of the sponsors.
Family Leader and other pro-life organizations are optimistic that with enough pressure from constituents, the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act can overcome the opposition. The senate version of the bill, S. 356, was reintroduced last January by Sen. Sam Brownback, (R-KS) and currently has 29 sponsors. Click here to see if both of your senators are among them.
President Bush has made it clear that if the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act makes it to his desk, he will sign it into law.
Take Action: Help Pass the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Bill
While federal lawmakers are in their districts for the August recess, now is an excellent time to get their attention. Please call your legislators' district offices in addition to sending them an email. Click here and enter your zip code to find contact information for your U.S. Senators and Representative.
By taking a few minutes to contact your lawmakers, you are speaking on behalf of the helpless, unborn children who cannot speak for themselves.
Sample Message: As your constituent I strongly support the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act H.R. 3442 or S.356. Not only do I urge you to VOTE YES on this humane legislation, but I also urge you to become a sponsor if you are not already.
