Jim Sensenbrenner: “Mr. Speaker, this bill, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002, would prohibit the gruesome procedure of…”

“Mr. Speaker, this bill, the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2002, would prohibit the gruesome procedure of partial-birth abortion that unfortunately we are now all too familiar with. An abortionist who violates this ban will be subject to fines, a maximum of 2 years imprisonment, or both. This bill includes an exception for those situations in which a partial-birth abortion is deemed necessary to save the life of the mother. A moral, medical, and ethical consensus exists that partial-birth abortion is an unsafe and inhumane procedure that is never medically necessary and which should be prohibited. Contrary to the claims of partial-birth abortion advocates, this type of abortion remains an untested, unproven, and potentially dangerous procedure that has never been embraced by the medical profession. As a result, Congress has voted to ban partial-birth abortion during the 104th, 105th, and 106th Congresses, and at least 27 states enacted bans on the procedure. Unfortunately the two Federal bans that reached President Clinton's desk were promptly vetoed. In June 2000, the Supreme Court struck down Nebraska's partial-birth abortion ban, which was similar but not identical to bans previously passed by the Congress.”