Inhofe, Graham, Senate Colleagues Reintroduce The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Press Release

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) joined Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and their Senate colleagues today to reintroduce the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

The legislation would provide common-sense protections for unborn children at 20 weeks after fertilization, a point at which there is significant scientific evidence that abortion inflicts tremendous pain on the unborn.

"By at least 20 weeks of age, babies can feel pain," said Inhofe. "Tragically, the United States is one of only seven countries that permits abortion after this point. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would ban abortions when a baby can feel pain and remove us from a list that includes China and North Korea--countries notorious for their human rights violations. We must continue to protect the sanctity of life, especially with this administration's efforts to undo our progress at respecting the dignity of all life."

"Every life is valuable--born or unborn," said Lankford. "It shouldn't be controversial to say that if a child survives an attempted abortion and is living outside his or her mother, that baby deserves to receive care. We should all agree that tax dollars should not fund abortion on demand in the United States or overseas. When science has shown a child can feel pain, they should not be subjected to a dismemberment abortion. And if a healthcare professional has a moral objection to participating in an abortion procedure, which by definition is the taking of life, they should not be forced by their employer to destroy the life they pledged to protect. Protecting life should not be a partisan issue; it should be an American issue. I am proud to speak up for the millions of children who cannot speak for themselves and honor their right to life."

Sen. Graham has introduced the Pain-Capable legislation the last four Congresses and Inhofe has cosponsored each time.

"I am proud to once again introduce the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act," Graham said. "There are only seven countries that allow wholesale abortions at the 20-week period, including China and North Korea. The United States should not be in that club."

"I don't believe abortion, five months into pregnancy, makes us a better nation," said Graham. "America is at her best when she's standing up for the least among us, and the sooner we pass this legislation into law, the better. We are on the right side of history."

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