Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) will introduce the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act Thursday, LifeNews.com reports.
In June, the House approved the legislation and the vote for the bill broke down on mostly partisan lines with Republicans supporting the ban on late-term abortions and Democrats opposing it. Leading pro-life organizations issued statements praising the House for the vote.
"The legislation would save more than 15,000 unborn children each year by banning abortion nationwide after 20 weeks (about 5 months) gestation. At this point, scientific evidence reveals an unborn child can feel excruciating pain," Graham said in a statement from his office. […]
The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would make it illegal for any person to perform, or attempt to perform, an abortion without first making a determination of the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child. If the post-fertilization age of the unborn child is determined to be 20 weeks or greater, an abortion shall not be performed.
Abortion practitioners who break the law would be subjected to a five-year prison term and/or fines.
