Sen. Lee introduces resolution to review illegal abortion practices

Image by Brett Barrett, St. George News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, Sen. Mike Lee introduced a resolution calling on the Senate to review public policies that led to the illegal abortion practices of Dr. Kermit Gosnell and others.

The resolution, which has 10 original cosponsors, would resolve: “Congress and States should gather information about and correct abusive, unsanitary and illegal abortion practices and the interstate referral of women and girls to facilities engaged in dangerous or illegal second- and third-trimester procedures.”

Gosnell is currently standing trial for the murder of one patient and seven newborn babies who were killed after the abortions failed and the babies were born alive.

“Congress has the responsibility to investigate and conduct hearings on abortions performed near, at, or after viability in the United States, public policies regarding such, and evaluate the extent to which such abortions involve violations of the natural right to life of infants who are born alive or are capable of being born alive, and therefore are entitled to equal protection under the law,” the resolution states.

The resolution also recognizes that “there is substantial medical evidence that an unborn child is capable of experiencing pain at 20 weeks after fertilization, or earlier,” and resolves that “there is a compelling governmental interest in protecting the lives of unborn children beginning at least from the stage at which substantial medical evidence indicates that they are capable of feeling pain.”

“The facts of the Gosnell case are disturbing and heartbreaking,” Lee said. “It should be a wake-up call to all Americans. The lack of oversight at abortion facilities puts women’s lives at risk and leads to the kind of unconscionable practices we have seen recently. The Senate should formally recognize that this is a problem in our country and we have a responsibility to investigate the causes, review the effects of certain public policies, and determine what we can do to prevent any woman from being subjected to these reprehensible practices again.”

The resolution is cosponsored by Sens. Toomey, Rubio, Cruz, Inhofe, Scott, Blunt, Burr, Vitter, Johanns and Boozman.

Additionally, Lee is the author of the “District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” legislation that would prohibit abortions in Washington, D.C. after the 20th week of pregnancy. The bill will be formally introduced this week. More information on the bill can be found here.

Submitted by: The Office of Sen. Mike Lee

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews

Image by Brett Barrett, St. George News
Image by Brett Barrett, St. George News

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1 Comment

  • Snowfield May 7, 2013 at 2:31 pm

    Monitoring interstate referral of abortion would be one way of banning all access for women of some states, but it probably won’t stand up under the Interstate Commerce Clause.

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