Federal - HR 1080

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Introduced

February 15, 2021

Description

H.R. 1080, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and strongly backed by NRLC, would protect unborn children who are capable of feeling pain, defined in the bill as beginning at 20 weeks fetal age, with certain exceptions.  (Twenty weeks fetal age is equivalent to 22 weeks in the alternate “LMP” or “weeks of pregnancy” dating system used by ob-gyns and abortion providers.)  The bill also contains certain protections for babies who may be born alive in abortions performed under the exception clauses.  The bill contains extensive congressional findings that by 20 weeks fetal age, if not earlier, the unborn child is capable of experiencing great pain when subjected to a dismemberment abortion or killed by other late abortion techniques.  Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is the prime sponsor of companion legislation in the Senate, S. 61. These bills are based on model legislation developed by National Right to Life in 2010, and since enacted in 16 states.  For more information on this issue, click here and here.

Our Position

Support

Original Sponsor 1

Co-Sponsors 167

Latest Actions See More/Less

  • May 6, 2022 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Webster, (R-Fla.)

  • April 1, 2022 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Johnson, (R-S.D.)

  • March 30, 2022 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Stefanik, (R-N.Y.)

  • March 1, 2022 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Ellzey, (R-Texas)

  • Jan. 28, 2022 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Crenshaw, (R-Texas)

  • Oct. 28, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Carter, J. (R-Texas)

  • Oct. 12, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Fitzgerald, (R-Wis.)

  • Sept. 27, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Cole, (R-Okla.)

  • Sept. 24, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Timmons (R-S.C.)

  • Aug. 6, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Zeldin, (R-N.Y.)

  • July 22, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Joyce, David (R-Ohio)

  • July 13, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 3

    Chabot, (R-Ohio)Green, (R-Tenn.)Long, (R-Mo.)

  • April 21, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Brady, K. (R-Texas)

  • April 20, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Letlow, (R-La.)

  • April 15, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Pence, (R-Ind.)

  • March 29, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Crawford, (R-Ark.)

  • March 11, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Nehls, (R-Texas)

  • March 10, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Turner, (R-Ohio)

  • March 8, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Cline, (R-Va.)

  • March 1, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Cammack, (R-Fla.)
    (Omitted from the Congressional Record of Monday, March 1, 2021.)

  • Feb. 24, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 2

    Palmer, (R-Ala.)Van Drew, (R-N.J.)

  • Feb. 18, 2021 — Additional cosponsor(s): 1

    Fulcher, (R-Idaho)

  • Feb. 15, 2021 — C. Smith, R-N.J., Submits a constitutional authority statement on the legislation. Congressional Record p. H515

  • Feb. 15, 2021 — Read twice and referred to: House Judiciary.Congressional Record p. H513-H514