August 27, 2012

I rise today in support of H.R. 3803, the D.C. Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. I fear for the conscience of our nation because the termination of unborn children, for any reason, is tolerated in some parts of our country throughout pregnancy -- even though scientific conclusions show infants feel pain by at least 20 weeks gestation. That literally means a baby at the halfway point of a pregnancy will experience pain during the violence of a dismemberment abortion -- the most common 2nd trimester abortion wherein a steel tool severs limbs from the infant and its skull is crushed. Such procedures are horrific and, in terms of pain, like torture to their infant subjects. As a country, we should leave this practice behind. That is why I am a cosponsor of this legislation to prohibit elective abortions in DC past 20 weeks. I urge my colleagues to stand with me for the most vulnerable among us and vote infavor of H.R 3803. I yield back.