The Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act was 9 votes shy of the 60 votes necessary. This bill would have banned all abortions after 20 weeks. perpetrators would face fines and up to five years in prison. An exception in the was bill was for rape victims, but only if they had counseling and health screening 48 hours prior.
President Donald Trump expressed his displeasure in the bill’s failure in this response:
Recently, when I addressed the 45th annual March for Life, I called on the Senate to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, important legislation that would protect our most vulnerable. It is disappointing that despite support from a bipartisan majority of U.S. Senators, this bill was blocked from further consideration. Scientific studies have demonstrated that babies in the womb feel pain at twenty weeks. The vote by the Senate rejects scientific fact and puts the United States out of the mainstream in the family of nations, in which only 7 out of 198 nations, including China and North Korea, allow elective abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. We must defend those who cannot defend themselves. I urge the Senate to reconsider its decision and pass legislation that will celebrate, cherish, and protect life.
The bill was mostly split by party lines but several Republican voted it down and several democrats voted for it.
Not surprisingly [R] Susan Collins of Maine and [R] Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against the bill. These democrats voted for the bill: [D] Joe Manchin of West Virginia, [D] Bob Casey Jr of Pennsylvania, and Joe Donnelly of Indiana.
Also newly elected [D] Doug Jones from Alabama voted against the bill.
A sad day in America when we can’t get a 20 week abortion ban to pass Congress. We need to flip 10-12 seats in 2018. I believe we can see an end of abortion in our lifetime. Pray!
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