House Votes to Ban Partial Birth Abortions

WASHINGTON, DC – Wisconsin’s First District Congressman Paul Ryan today voted to ban partial-birth abortion procedures, as the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4965, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002, by a bipartisan margin of 274-151.

"No matter what side of the abortion debate people are on, I think we can find common ground on this issue and oppose the horrible practice of partial-birth abortion," Ryan said. "This gruesome procedure ends the life of a child in one of the most brutal ways imaginable, and it could pose serious health risks for the mother. It is unnecessary and indefensible from both a moral and a medical standpoint. I hope more and more people learn about this procedure and urge the Senate to follow the House’s lead and ban partial-birth abortion."

Partial-birth abortion is a procedure where a pregnant woman’s cervix is forcibly dilated, then her unborn child is pulled through the birth canal until his or her body, except for the head, is outside the womb. The abortionist then penetrates the base of the baby’s skull with scissors and uses a suction device to remove the brain, causing the skull to collapse and ending the life of the child.

An abortionist who violates the ban on partial-birth abortion would be subject to fines or a maximum of two years imprisonment, or both. H.R. 4965 also establishes a civil cause of action for damages against an abortionist who violates the ban and includes an exception for those situations in which a partial-birth abortion is necessary to save the life of the mother.

This legislation also contains Congress’s factual findings that, based upon extensive medical evidence compiled during congressional hearings, a partial-birth abortion is never necessary to preserve the health of a woman. Moreover, the American Medical Association has said the procedure is "not good medicine."