Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Background: First introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would protect unborn children from late-term abortion after five months. The bill is known as “Micah’s Law” in honor of Micah Pickering, who was born prematurely at twenty weeks (22 weeks gestation).

Talking Points:

• It is a scientific fact that babies feel excruciating pain by at least 20 weeks, or five months, more than halfway through pregnancy. This legislation would protect those babies, who are recognized by fetal surgeons as a separate patient from his or her mom.
• Anesthesia for unborn patients is routinely administered as standard medical practice. 
• The United States is outside the international norm when it comes to abortion. We are one of only seven nations to allow elective abortion after five months of pregnancy, along with China and North Korea.
• Protecting babies after five months is the right thing to do, it is also popular. Polls consistently show a majority of Americans support this bill including:

• 78% of Millennial voters
• 67% of Women voters 
• 70% of African American voters 
• 57% of Hispanic voters 
• Watch Dr. Donna Harrison’s compellingtestimony on fetal pain here.

SOURCE: Susan B. Anthony