According to several reports, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is teeing up a 20-week abortion ban to be voted on as soon as today.
If there’s one political golden rule since Nixon, it’s this: When everything feels like it’s falling apart, that’s when we see politicians make a spectacle of playing politics with women’s lives.
That is certainly the case with S. 2311, which seeks to install an arbitrary time limit for abortion that is not only medically unnecessary, but is medically dangerous for patients experiencing crisis pregnancies.
The evidence demonstrates that arbitrary pre-viability time limits on abortion rob women of their right to make their own medical decisions, and endangers the lives of women facing crisis pregnancies. It is also unconstitutional.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) strongly opposes this bill. ACOG’s statement to U.S. Senators urging opposition:
Haywood L. Brown, M.D., president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), released the following statement in response to the United States Senate’s expected vote on S. 2311.
“The United States Senate should abandon S. 2311 and all legislation that limits women’s access to comprehensive health care, including abortion care. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) opposes every type of political interference in the practice of medicine, including legislation that bans abortion at an arbitrary cutoff point.
“This bill ignores scientific evidence regarding fetal inability to experience pain at that gestational age. In addition, the phrase “probable post-fertilization age” is not medically or clinically meaningful, as it is impossible to know the precise date of fertilization, except where fertilization is achieved through assisted reproductive technology. This language creates ambiguity that would leave abortion providers vulnerable to unwarranted punishment.
“S. 2311 targets and punishes abortion providers who terminate a pregnancy after 20 weeks with up to five years in prison. It is an unconstitutional attempt to intimidate health care providers and prevent them from providing the safe care their patients want and need.
“There are many reasons a woman may seek abortion care at 20 weeks, including fatal or serious medical conditions to the woman and/or her fetus that cannot be diagnosed at earlier stages of pregnancy. Determining if and when an abortion is necessary belongs in the exam room, between a woman, her physician and those she trusts – not on the Senate floor. “
“ACOG urges the Senate to reject S. 2311 and instead focus on protecting women’s access to safe, evidence-based and comprehensive care.”
Urge Senator Bob Casey and Senator Pat Toomey to listen to medical experts, and vote NO on S. 2311.
How to Contact Senator Bob Casey:
Email Sen. Casey, call Sen. Casey at (202) 224-6324, post on his Facebook page, and/or tweet at him @SenBobCasey.
How to Contact Senator Pat Toomey:
Email Sen. Toomey, call Sen. Toomey at (202) 224-4254, post on his Facebook page, and/or tweet at him @SenToomey.
The Women’s Law Project is a public interest law center in Pennsylvania devoted to advancing the rights of women and girls.
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