Sen. Graham, Cochran push measure to limit abortions
Sen. Lindsey Graham on Thursday introduced a bill that would ban abortions once a pregnancy reaches the 20-week mark, pushing Senate legislation that the Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed earlier this year.
Graham, a South Carolina Republican running for election next year to a third term, cited significant advancements in science and technology since the Supreme Court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which prohibited abortions in the last trimester of pregnancy.
“We now know that an unborn child at the 20th week of pregnancy can feel pain,” Graham said. “In fact, anesthesia is administered directly to unborn children in second-trimester fetal surgery. Given these facts and the continued strong support for life, I believe there is a compelling interest in protecting these unborn children, who are among the most vulnerable in our society.”
Graham’s measure, called the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, has 33 co-sponsors, all Republicans, which represents about 75 percent of all GOP senators.
Among the co-sponsors is fellow South Carolinian, Republican Sen. Tim Scott. Other include: Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts of Kansas, Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn of Texas, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Sun Herald
11/8/13