Kevin Brady: “I rise in support of H.R. 1997, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act and want to thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1997, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act and want to thank my colleague from Pennsylvania for introducing it. Sadly, in America today an individual who commits a Federal crime of violence against a pregnant woman receives no additional punishment for killing or injuring the woman's unborn child while committing the crime. America's mothers and their unborn children deserve better. When the crime involves two victims, the law must protect and provide justice for both. The legislation we are considering today, H.R. 1997 would make it a separate Federal crime to hurt or kill an unborn child during the commission of a Federal crime against a pregnant woman. Over half of the States in our country currently recognize both the mother and the unborn child as victims of violent crimes. In fact, just last week the Commonwealth of Kentucky enacted a fetal homicide law in response to public attention to a recent tragedy in that State where 18-year-old Ashley Lyons and her unborn son, Landon, were killed. As both a strong supporter of victim's rights and a pro-life advocator, I recognize that the voices of members of families who have lost loved ones--born and unborn--in crimes of violence, are an important part of the debate over this important bill.”