House Passes 20-Week Anti-Abortion Bill
LatestToday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would ban abortion after 20 weeks. This legislation, which originally was scheduled for a vote back in January, has limited exceptions. Requirements for these would include a 48-hour waiting period for rape survivors, as well as mandatory counseling and medical treatment at least two-days prior to receiving the abortion—whether or not the victim requests it. Underage victims of rape and incest would be required to report the crime.
According to The Hill, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest called House Republicans “disgraceful” for passing a vote on a bill that “would put additional burdens on survivors of rape and sexual assault.” Standard fetal anomaly scans that occur at 18-20 weeks can reveal dangerous complications and birth abnormalities. This bill would take away a woman’s right to make her own personal health decisions at an extremely crucial time.