Russ Feingold: “I will oppose H.R. 1997, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and instead support an alternative offered by Senator…”

“I will oppose H.R. 1997, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, and instead support an alternative offered by Senator Feinstein, and I would like to take a moment to explain why. I join with Senator DeWine and the supporters of this bill in condemning acts of violence against women, including pregnant women. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act would make it a Federal crime to injure or kill a fetus during the commission of a Federal crime against a pregnant woman. This separate offense would be punished as if injury or death had occurred to the pregnant woman. I believe that acts of violence against pregnant women are deplorable and should be punished severely. Congress has taken and should continue to take steps to protect women from violence and prosecute those who attack them. But I am concerned that by recognizing the fetus as an entity against which a separate crime can be committed, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act may undermine women's reproductive rights as set forth by the Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade. That is why I plan to support a sound alternative, the Motherhood Protection Act, offered by my colleague Senator Feinstein.”