Contact: Douglas Johnson, National Right to Life Committee Federal Legislation Department, 202-626-8820, Legfederal@aol.com   

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 /Christian Newswire/ -- The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday voted 250-162 in favor of the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act (H.R. 6099).  This bill, supported by National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), would require abortionists to provide women seeking abortion after 20 weeks past fertilization (the beginning of the sixth month) a brochure explaining that there is "substantial evidence" that the abortion will cause pain to the unborn child, and advise them of their right to request the administration of pain-reducing drugs to the unborn child. 

The bill received a solid majority but fell short of the two-thirds vote required for approval under the parliamentary fast-track procedure that is used to consider many bills during the final days of the Congress.

The following statement may be attributed to Douglas Johnson, legislative director for National Right to Life:

"It is no small thing that 60 percent of the House endorsed requiring abortionists to inform women that late abortion may be very painful to the unborn child.  The other 40 percent will have to explain why they favor anti-pain laws for animals used for research or food, but not for unborn humans."

To view the roll call (House roll call number 526), click here.

For additional information on this issue, visit the NRLC website at http://www.nrlc.org/abortion/Fetal_Pain/index.html