Cord Byrd: “once again we find ourselves addressing the very difficult and emotional issue of partial-birth abortion. The bill the…”

“once again we find ourselves addressing the very difficult and emotional issue of partial-birth abortion. The bill the Senate is considering today would criminalize the performance of the partial-birth abortion procedure, unless it is necessary to save the life of the mother. I still have many unanswered questions about this matter, and, as I have indicated in the past, I am extremely hesitant to thrust the Congress into the role of the physician. I am concerned that this measure seemingly ignores the Supreme Court's determinations regarding the role of the state in banning abortions pre- and post-viability and with regard to the health of the mother. I have also noted concerns that this might be the first step in a process which may lead Congress to play the role of doctor again and again and again on specific medical procedures. As in the past, I have given this issue a great deal of thought and I have particularly considered the new information brought to light by Ron Fitzsimmons of the National Coalition of Abortion Providers. His remarks made clear that this particular procedure is performed far more often than originally thought and not just under certain extreme circumstances which severely threaten the life and the health of the mother. In addition, an endorsement of the ban by the American Medical Association (AMA), which represents a large number of our Nation's doctors, certainly allays some of my earlier concerns about this measure.”