The Republican-led Senate voted 64-33 on March 13 to prohibit partial-birth abortions. Congress passed similar bills twice before, but President Clinton vetoed them. Observers expect the House to approve the Senate bill. President Bush has promised to sign it.
President Bush praised the vote, saying, "Partial-birth abortion is an abhorrent procedure that offends human dignity."
The bill imposes fines and possible jail time for doctors who commit an "overt act" to kill a "partially delivered fetus." In the controversial procedure, doctors deliver most of the baby through the birth canal, crushing the head while it is still in the womb.
The Senate bill contains an exception to save the life of the mother. The Supreme Court struck down a similar Nebraska law in 2000 without that provision.
Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said the ban is "yet one more encouraging sign that the prolife movement is winning the long-term struggle for hearts and minds on the issue of life in the womb."
Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, vowed to "work aggressively to defend this [proposed] law in court—a law that is not only necessary, but eminently constitutional as well."
Opponents said they will fight the measure in court.
Refocusing the Pro-life Agenda | The pro-life cause is winning the battle of persuasion in the minds of many Americans. (March 1, 1999)
Abortion's Untold Story | How journalist Cynthia Gorney has helped both sides of the abortion debate to view the other side honestly. (April 27, 1998)
Wanted: A New Pro-life Strategy | Twenty-five years after Roe, and 37 million abortions later, we have to admit we are losing the fight. (Jan. 12, 1998)
Roe v. McCorvey | What made "Roe" betray the pro-choice cause? (Jan. 12, 1998)
Abortion Pill Seems on Fast Track | Pro-life activists say they will now concentrate their opposition efforts on grassroots education about the drug's potential dangers. (Sept. 16, 1996)
You Say Choice, I Say Murder |Before prolife arguments can reach the undecided American, we have got to look at the language we use. (June 24, 1991)
The Abortion Wars | What most Christians don't know about the history of pro-life struggles. (Oct. 6, 1989)
Reversing Roe v. Wade | It may take more than a single court decision to counter abortion on demand. (Sept. 20, 1985)