U.S. House
The nine men who make up the Republican Congressional delegation from Michigan.
The House of Representatives passed the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act Tuesday — a bill that, if approved by the Senate and White House, would criminalize abortions after 20 weeks.
The bill was approved 237-189, in a vote that fell mostly along party lines. Every Michigan House Republican voted in favor of it. The Republican representatives from Michigan are, notably, all men.
Critics of the bill have called it unconstitutional in violation the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion.
"20-week bans are a clear attempt to erode Roe v. Wade. In fact, 20-week ban proponents are outspoken about their goal to challenge the 1973 Supreme Court decision protecting a woman's right to safe and legal abortion," the Planned Parenthood Action Fund said online. PPAF also pointed out that nearly 99 percent of abortions happen before the 21 week mark.
Legislators tried to push similar bills through the House and Senate in 2013 and 2015, but failed. This time around, the bill has support from the White House, something it didn't have before.
"The administration strongly supports H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, and applauds the House of Representatives for continuing its efforts to secure critical pro-life protections," the White House said in a statement.
GOP Whip Sen. John Cornyn was asked on Monday if the bill had a chance to make it through the Senate. Cornyn responded, "that's not a near-term policy."
The non-partisan, non-profit website FactCheck.org, says claims that fetuses can start feeling pain at 20 weeks are unfounded.
