Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act--Motion to Proceed

Floor Speech

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Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I rise today to express my support for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill that protects children from late-term abortions. As cosponsor of this commonsense proposal, I am grateful the Senate will be taking a vote on this very important piece of legislation. Our constituents should know where we stand on this issue.

The American people support reasonable limits on dangerous late-term abortions. A November 2014 Quinnipiac poll shows that 60 percent of Americans support legislation limiting abortions after 20 weeks. In line with this prevailing view, several States have already passed laws limiting late-term abortions.

I note that Nebraska was actually the first State to pass language like the Federal Pain-Capable Unborn Protection Act. I was a member of our legislature at the time, and I was proud to be a cosponsor of that piece of legislation that was offered by my good friend, former Nebraska speaker Mike Flood. Speaker Flood's proposal passed in our unicameral legislature by a bipartisan vote of 44 to 5. We had pro-choice Senators, both Republicans and Democrats, who supported it. We had pro-life Senators, both Republicans and Democrats, who supported it. Nearly 90 percent of our legislature came together and supported that bill. Why? Well, because it is a piece of reasonable legislation. Americans recognize that and also recognize that opposition to this legislation is extremism.

This isn't a new idea. Eleven States already have protections against late-term abortions that are similar to this bill. Science clearly indicates that at 20 weeks, these babies can feel pain.

On this issue, party affiliation should not matter. On this issue, whether we declare we are pro-life or whether we say we are pro-choice should not matter. These designations didn't matter in my State of Nebraska. We looked at the facts. We came together from both sides of the aisle and passed a sensible, compassionate bill. Let's do the same here in the Senate.

We all agree that we must support women who find themselves with unplanned pregnancies. Too many women experience despair, pain, and judgment during an unplanned pregnancy. Rather than offering condemnation, we should show kindness and understanding. We should offer assistance for these women, these expectant mothers who need to know we will continue to support them in the challenging years ahead.

I recognize that abortion remains an emotionally charged issue here in this country, but I also recognize that people of good will can disagree on the matter. I respect those opinions that are different from my own. But this legislation is not controversial, and it shouldn't divide us.

Before us today is a fundamental question of whether it is worth protecting human life capable of feeling pain. For anyone who believes otherwise, I would challenge them to explain when a life is worth protecting if not when she feels pain? Nebraska affirmed this principle 5 years ago. The rest of the Nation should do so as well.

Thank you, Mr. President, and I yield the floor.

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