NC Family Staff | January 21, 2015 | SHARE: 
UPDATE: H.R. 36—Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act has been removed from consideration by the U.S. House.
A pro-life bill that would prohibit the abortion of unborn children after 20 weeks of fertilization needs your help – NOW!
H.R. 36—Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is scheduled to come before the U.S. House for a vote tomorrow, Thursday, January 22, but one member of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-District 2), has withdrawn her co-sponsorship of the bill, and, reportedly, is working to remove an important provision from the measure.
Please contact Rep. Ellmers at (202) 225-4531, and urge her to support H.R. 36—Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act!
H.R. 36 states that, “abortion shall not be performed or attempted, if the probable post-fertilization age … of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater.” Two exceptions are included in the bill: (1) if abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother, or (2) if the pregnancy is a result of rape or incest, and the rape or incest has been reported to an appropriate law enforcement agency (or other appropriate government agency in the case of incest) at any time prior to the abortion.
The reporting requirement of the second exception is necessary to ensure that abortionists do not simply claim the pregnancy was the result of rape or incest in order to evade the law.
NC Family has had multiple conversations with Rep. Ellmers’ staff in Washington, D.C. today, and we have been told that she is concerned about the inclusion of the reporting requirement for rape and incest. As a result, she withdrew her name as a co-sponsor of H.R. 36. Although her staff has indicated that Rep. Ellmers intends to vote for the H.R. 36 when it comes before the House, her actions (along with those of some of her House colleagues) have created confusion about her position on the bill. The resulting controversy also has caused turmoil among supporters who are working to gain passage of this incredibly important life-saving legislation.
Please contact Rep. Ellmers at (202) 225-4531, and urge her to support H.R. 36—Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act!
Thank You!
