Cord Byrd: “I commend the Minority Leader for his good efforts to bring about a thoughtful compromise on this difficult issue. He…”

“I commend the Minority Leader for his good efforts to bring about a thoughtful compromise on this difficult issue. He and his staff have worked long and hard to develop the language we have before us in the form of this amendment. The Daschle alternative would ban all post-viability abortions while presenting an exception for the life of the mother and a meaningful, narrowly tailored exception for serious health risk to the mother. The amendment also contains penalties for a first violation of the law in the form of a fine of up to $100,000 or the loss of the physician's license. While I am generally opposed to abortion, I also believe that there should be the ability to protect the mother. This issue is a very difficult and a very emotional one. I have grappled with it long and hard. While some may argue that this amendment is a paper tiger, I disagree. This amendment, unlike the underlying bill, would address all late-term abortion procedures, not just the partial-birth abortion procedure. Again, I appreciate the efforts of the Minority Leader, and I will cast my vote in support of his amendment.”