The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved the passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act, which legislatively solidifies a woman’s right to an abortion.
The largely symbolic bill, which passed with overwhelming opposition from House Republicans, seeks to combat the growing trend of pro-life measures implemented by GOP-majority state legislatures across the nation. Only one Democrat in the lower chamber voted against the legislation.
The House-approved bill, according to Democrats and pro-choice advocates, seeks to guarantee a woman’s right to terminate her pregnancy as adjudicated in the 1973 landmark case of Roe v. Wade.
According to Fox News, the historic bill places a ban on a number of restrictions implemented in Republican-led states. Among these include waiting periods, the ability for the infant to sustain life outside the womb. It also includes bans based on the reasoning for an abortion as well as certain regulations placed on the facilities of abortion providers.
Republican members of Alabama’s congressional delegation slammed the Democrat-sponsored legislation, further solidifying their pro-life positions. The House GOP, which claims that the legislation “imposes abortion on demand until birth,” has branded the bill as the “Abortion on Demand Act.”
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) stated that the bill essentially would repeal laws put in place by the Alabama State Legislature which seeks to protect the life of the unborn.
“Democrats’ determination to terminate innocent human life is beyond the pale,” said Moore. “This life-killing legislation legalizes abortion on demand, opening the floodgates to killing millions of infant lives – all worthy of saving,” said Moore. “Trampling over state laws, this bill overturns nearly every pro-life protection that Alabama has in place, including current safeguards for any baby determined to be viable.”
A staunch opponent of abortion rights, U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), deems the bill to be “pro-infanticide.”
“Socialist Democrats’ radical, pro-abortion position has shifted from ‘safe, legal, and rare’ to, in some places, pro-infanticide,” stated Brooks. “Their extreme position is repulsive and science denial of the first order because science confirms that human life begins at conception.”
The congressman likened the United States’ history of abortion to human rights abuses of some of the world’s most notorious dictatorial regimes.
“America is one of only seven countries worldwide that allows abortions after 20 weeks,” he added. “That puts America in the same category as notorious human rights abusers China and North Korea. That is not a record Socialist Democrats should be proud of.”
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) pledged his continued support of pro-life measures.
“Dems vote today to pass their radical pro-abortion bill that would erase many state laws protecting unborn children & women’s rights to be informed on fetal development & abortion procedure,” said Palmer. “I’ll always stand for the safety & rights of women & their unborn children.”
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) labeled the bill as “radical” and hopes it will be ultimately defeated when sent to the upper chamber.
“Extreme, radical, unprecedented. Those three words describe the Democrats abortion bill being voted on today in Congress,” said the North Alabama congressman. “But this Abortion on Demand legislation doesn’t change the fact that abortion stops an innocent, human heartbeat. We must fight for life and reject this bill.”
Vowing to fight for “protections of unborn children,” U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) stated that he is vehemently opposed to House Democrats’ landmark bill.
“Pro-abortion radicals in Congress are working hard this morning to strip unborn children of even the most basic protections,” said Carl. “I am strongly opposed to their Abortion on Demand Act. I’m proud to be 100% pro-life, and I will continue fighting any efforts to take away the rights and protections of unborn children.”
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) was the only member of Alabama’s congressional delegation to support the wide-ranging abortion rights bill.
The bill now heads to the U.S. Senate, where, due to governing procedure, it is unlikely to pass and become law.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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