Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

The House of Representatives voted this evening to pass legislation to ban abortion after 20 weeks, except in what Democrats assailed as “narrow” cases of incest of a minor, rape, and health of the mother, prompting a partisan debate on the House floor as lawmakers grappled over the question of how soon a fetus is able to detect pain in the womb.

The bill, H.R. 1797 – Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, passed by a vote of 228-196. Six Republicans opposed the measure, while six Democrats crossed the aisle to support it.

Republicans contend that a fetus is capable of detecting pain well before the current cut-off for abortions, at 24 weeks.

“These aren’t just fetuses, science now tells us that they can feel pain. These babies are just like the ones we see in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in hospitals in our area struggling for life, needing love,” Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said in support of the bill. “This law will protect children.”

“As a republic founded on the notion of the inherent right to life of every human being, we have an abiding responsibility to ensure that the innocent and most vulnerable are adequately protected from the gravest and most appalling of injustices, especially murder,” Rep Mike Kelly, R-Pa., added. “That is what today’s legislation seeks to accomplish and I am proud to grant it my complete support.”

Democrats, on the other hand, called the legislation an assault on women’s reproductive rights and an attempt to override the Supreme Court’s 1973 ruling in Roe. v. Wade.

“It is unconstitutional, and it is dangerous to the health and safety of American women,” Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said. “It’s a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade when the Court held that prior to viability, abortions may be banned only if there are meaningful exceptions to protect a woman’s life and health.”

“Republicans have repeatedly demonstrated a lack of understanding about basic women’s healthcare, and this bill is just one more example of their continuing attack on women’s rights,” Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., added during debate on the bill. “It is a step backward for women’s health.”

Although the bill passed, its path to the floor was rocky at best. Last week during a mark-up in the Judiciary committee, Rep. Trent Franks, the lead sponsor of the legislation, said that “the incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low.” Franks later said that what he meant was that “pregnancies from rape that result in abortion after the sixth month are very rare.”