In our nation’s capital, unborn babies are dismembered, limb by limb, and discarded as little more than trash. These children are being killed even as scientific evidence shows that they are capable of feeling and experiencing every moment of this excruciating pain. Texas Right to Life supports the passage of the D.C. Pain- Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to end this atrocity.
Current Washington, D.C. law allows abortions to be committed for any reason, at any point of time up to the moment of birth. During late-term abortions, babies up to nine months gestation are cut apart and suctioned from their mother’s womb in the procedure known as dilatation and evacuation, or D & E. These butchering sessions must be stopped.
The Pain-Capable Act will codify the consensus of the scientific community that children are capable of feeling pain at least by 20 weeks post-fertilization, and the law would prohibit abortions from this point forward except in extremely rare circumstances to save the Life of the mother.
On May 17, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution held a public hearing on this bill, with three physicians speaking in favor of the measure, and one D.C. resident speaking against.
All three physicians spoke of the excruciating pain felt by unborn babies at 20 weeks post-fertilization. Dr. Colleen Malloy, a neonatologist specializing in care for extremely premature babies, testified as to the pain that her patients feel when she and her colleagues perform standard medical procedures, such as starting an IV treatment. Dr. Malloy said that her patients show clear signs of pain, including cries, and that the Life-saving procedures she performs are far less painful than the dismemberment endured by babies of the same age during a late abortion.
The lone voice of dissent, Christy Zink, is a mother of two living in Washington, D.C. She testified that, in 2009, her unborn child was diagnosed with a fetal abnormality late in pregnancy. She said she could not fathom how the “compassionate” abortion she chose could ever be made illegal. Zink explained that her child would have had a very low chance of surviving past infancy.
Dr. Byron Calhoun, an OB/GYN professor, remarked that neonatal hospice is a loving choice for babies born with fatal disorders. They – and their parents – are provided care and counseling and are not subjected to the even greater pain of a dismemberment abortion.
Several Texas Congressmen have sponsored this important legislation. The list below shows which members of our delegation have co-sponsored. Please take a moment to contact your official and either express your thanks for supporting this very important battle, or encourage him or her to sponsor this Life-saving legislation.
|
Member |
District |
Party |
Office # |
D.C. Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act |
|
Gohmert, Louie |
1 |
R |
202.225.3035 |
√ |
|
Poe, Ted |
2 |
R |
202.225.6565 |
√ |
|
Johnson, Sam |
3 |
R |
202.225.4201 |
√ |
|
Hall, Ralph |
4 |
R |
202.225.6673 |
√ |
|
Hensarling, Jeb |
5 |
R |
202.225.3484 |
√ |
|
Barton, Joe |
6 |
R |
202.225.2002 |
|
|
Culberson, John |
7 |
R |
202.225.2571 |
√ |
|
Brady, Kevin |
8 |
R |
202.225.4901 |
√ |
|
Green, Al |
9 |
D |
202.225.7508 |
|
|
McCaul, Michael |
10 |
R |
202.225.2401 |
√ |
|
Conaway, Mike |
11 |
R |
202.225.3605 |
√ |
|
Granger, Kay |
12 |
R |
202.225.5071 |
|
|
Thornberry, Mac |
13 |
R |
202.225.3706 |
|
|
Paul, Ron |
14 |
R |
202.225.2831 |
|
|
Hinojosa, Ruben |
15 |
D |
202.225.2531 |
|
|
Reyes, Silvestre |
16 |
D |
202.225.4831 |
|
|
Flores, Bill |
17 |
R |
202.225.6105 |
√ |
|
Lee, Sheila Jackson |
18 |
D |
202.225.3816 |
|
|
Neugebauer, Randy |
19 |
R |
202.225.4005 |
√ |
|
Gonzalez, Charles |
20 |
D |
202.225.3236 |
|
|
Smith, Lamar |
21 |
R |
202.225.4236 |
√ |
|
Olson, Pete |
22 |
R |
202.225.5951 |
√ |
|
Canseco, Quico |
23 |
R |
202.225.4511 |
√ |
|
Marchant, Kenny |
24 |
R |
202.225.6605 |
√ |
|
Doggett, Lloyd |
25 |
D |
202.225.4865 |
|
|
Burgess, Michael |
26 |
R |
202.225.7772 |
√ |
|
Farenthold, Blake |
27 |
R |
202.225.7742 |
√ |
|
Cuellar, Henry |
28 |
D |
202.225.1640 |
|
|
Green, Gene |
29 |
D |
202.225.1688 |
|
|
Johnson, Eddie Bernice |
30 |
D |
202.225.8885 |
|
|
Carter, John |
31 |
R |
202.225.3864 |
√ |
|
Sessions, Pete |
32 |
R |
202.225.2231 |
√ |
