Faith

House Rejects Sex-Selection Abortion Ban

House Rejects Sex Selection Abortion BanWASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Thursday fell short in an effort to ban abortions based on the sex of the fetus as Republicans and Democrats made an election-year appeal for women’s votes.

The legislation would have made it a federal crime to perform or force a woman to undergo a sex-based abortion, a practice most common in some Asian countries where families wanting sons abort female fetuses.

(Related: Anti-Abortion Group Releases 2nd ‘Gendercide’ Video Showing Planned Parenthood’s Alleged Sex-Selection Abortion Assistance)

It was a rare social issue to reach the House floor in a year when the economy has dominated the political conversation, and Republicans, besieged by Democratic claims that they are waging a war on women, struck back by trying to depict the vote as a women’s rights issue.

“It is violence against women,” said Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., of abortions of female fetuses. “This is the real war on women.”

The White House, most Democrats, abortion rights groups and some Asian-American organizations opposed the bill, saying it could lead to racial profiling of Asian-American women and subject doctors who do not report suspected sex-selection abortions to criminal charges.

“The administration opposes gender discrimination in all forms, but the end result of this legislation would be to subject doctors to criminal prosecution if they fail to determine the motivations behind a very personal and private decision,” White House spokeswoman Jamie Smith said in a statement. “The government should not intrude in medical decisions or private family matters in this way.”

House Rejects Sex Selection Abortion Ban

The bill had little chance of becoming law. The Democratic-controlled Senate would likely have ignored it, and the House brought it up under a procedure requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. The vote was 246-168 – 30 votes short of that majority. Twenty Democrats voted for it, while seven Republicans opposed it.

The bill’s author, Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., said before the vote that regardless of the outcome, the point would be made. “When people vote on this, the world will know where they really stand.”

Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the House’s No. 2 Democrat, said he thought the bill was introduced because “somebody decided politically that this was a difficult place to put people in.”

The legislation would have made it a federal offense, subject to up to five years in prison, to perform, solicit funds for or coerce a woman into having a sex-selection abortion. Bringing a woman into the country to obtain such an abortion would also be punishable by up to five years in prison. While doctors would not have an affirmative responsibility to ask a woman her motivations for an abortion, health workers could be imprisoned for up to a year for not reporting known or suspected violations of the ban on sex-based abortions.

An earlier version of the bill also made it illegal to abort a fetus based on race.

“We are the only advanced country left in the world that still doesn’t restrict sex-selection abortion in any way,” said Franks, who has also collided with abortion-rights groups recently over a bill he supports to ban abortions in the District of Columbia after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Franks and others say there is evidence of sex-selection abortions in the United States among certain ethnic groups from countries where there is a traditional preference for sons. The bill notes that while the United States has no federal law against such abortions, countries such as India and China, where the practice has contributed to lopsided boy-girl ratios, have enacted bans on the practice.

Lawmakers “who recently have embraced contrived political rhetoric asserting that they are resisting a `war on women’ must reflect on whether they now wish to be recorded as being defenders of the escalating war on baby girls,” said National Right to Life Committee legislative director Douglas Johnson.

His group, in a letter to lawmakers, said there are credible estimates that 160 million women and girls are missing from the world due to sex selection.

But the Guttmacher Institute, an organization that favors abortion rights, said evidence of sex selection in the United States is limited and inconclusive. It said that while there is census data showing some evidence of son preference among Chinese-, Indian- and Korean-American families when older children are daughters, the overall U.S. sex ratio at birth in 2005 was 105 boys to 100 girls, “squarely within biologically normal parameters.”

NARAL Pro-Choice America president Nancy Keenan said that while her group has long opposed reproductive coercion, “the Franks bill exploits the very real problem of sex discrimination and gender inequity while failing to offer any genuine solutions that would eliminate disparities in health care access and information.”

Marcia Greenberger, co-president of the National Women’s Law Center, said the bill fosters discrimination by “subjecting women from certain racial and ethnic backgrounds to additional scrutiny about their decision to terminate a pregnancy.”

“Doctors would be forced to police their patients, read their minds and conceal information from them,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.

Republicans also used the bill to continue their ongoing criticism of Planned Parenthood, citing a video taken by the group Live Action purporting to show a Planned Parenthood social worker advising a woman on how to determine if her fetus was female before she terminated the pregnancy.

Comments (67)

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  • Chet Hempstead
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 8:23pm

    A rare moment of sanity in the House of Reprehensibles.

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  • Timely Renewed
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 8:09pm

    This is a worthy effort. However, until the Supreme Court’s usurpation of the right of the states to regulate abortion is addressed, these efforts and those in the states are fighting an uphill battle against the doctrine of judicial precedent. There is another possible solution. This is to correct the underlying distortion of the Constitution which has allowed the Supreme Court to use the hopelessly vague language of section 1 of the 14th amendment to read whatever social policy it wants into the Constitution. The solution to this is a constitutional amendment, not to ban abortion, but rather to return section 1 to its original purpose of banning governmental race discrimination. This will zero out all of the Supreme Court’s unrelated judicial lawmaking under that section of the Constitution. See http://www.timelyrenewed.com

    Report Post »  
  • garbagecanlogic
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 8:07pm

    If we are going to act like the chinese, why not speak like them and treat our people like them? Oh yeah, the liberals already have many of the chinese practices either in place or on the way to being in place.

    Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8

    The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
    The U.N. Out Of The U.S

    Report Post »  
  • Windsong
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 8:07pm

    So, tell me representatives – regardless of party, when did you actually reach a point where murder was okay…if it’s a girl, of course. Is it because these helpless souls can’t vote for you? Never again question why the American people want all of you out of office. You have nothing to offer the American people, and you have nothing to offer the rest of the world. Both parties have sold their souls. The good news is, the Tea Party and other non-affilated individuals saw the true ‘party’ men and women a long time ago. I don’t want a murderer representing me in the House or the Senate.
    I will pray for you all, but I will not vote for you. You have to earn respect and you’ve managed to lose that completely. Anyone who voted to allow America to rid itself of female babies isn’t worthy of representing civilized people in Washington.

    Report Post »  
  • Wilma
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 7:56pm

    Lila Rose whose video brought this issue to our attention should have made several hidden videos. Otherwise the Left will just claim it as an isolated incidence.

    Report Post » Wilma  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 7:30pm

    Gutless bast*rds all should be voted out of office. This is why term limits is a must …….

    Report Post »  
    • booboo915
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 9:24pm

      Amen!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • tajloc
      Posted on June 1, 2012 at 8:44am

      I hope you read this… We don‘t need term limits ’cuz we have them. Just vote the %%^%**(’s out. The trouble it takes a passionate electorate who is paying attention. that is the part that we need. Obama is just doing what he trained for. What are we to do with a great nation who voted for him in huge numbers. But ROM 8:28

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  • PapaJohannesPatriot
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 7:17pm

    shame on everyone who voted against the bill.

    Report Post »  
  • EX-ELT
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 7:02pm

    H.R. 3541: Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act (PRENDA) of 2012

    http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/112-2012/h299

    Report Post »  
  • jbrote47
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:57pm

    Once again the demo-hypocrites show that they support the muder of the innocents. If you don’t agree, consider this-Murder a pregnant woman and you will be charge with DOUBLE murder.

    Report Post »  
  • HigherRoad
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:48pm

    Just another push down the slippery slope of depravity. Obama seems to get around the Constitution on a number of his malicious bills (Obamacare for one). How is it that the Republicans don’t seem to know how to use those legislative “shortcuts” as well? Sad for the unborn and sad for America!

    Report Post »  
  • don young
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:36pm

    Bill o’reilly said he would post the names of the ones that voted against it we will know there names.

    Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:33pm

    Those who are doing this need to be put to death by law. If a baby is termed a boy or girl, then there is something there to make it human. Common sense would tell people that anyway.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • blackyb
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:31pm

    If they are admitting that there is a sex, or a gender, then they are admitting there is a life. They are, whether they admit to anything, committing murder. This is nothing less than murder, and sex discrimination to boot. It is our job to speak out and demand these murders of the innocents cease immediately. People are committing cold bloodied murder on little babies. These people have to be as evil as the most evil in the history of the world.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • republic2011
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:29pm

    Vote them out this coming election. Send a message and get them out of Congress.. Democrats and Republicans, alike. Tell them we are done with politics and want individuals that are true to their values and true to the Constitution. This is murder. I could see this failing in the Senate, but in the Republican controlled House? Fire them all!

    Report Post »  
  • vvinyard
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:13pm

    OMG what he H – - – is wrong with people? I am in shock, this is a no brainer. I cannot even ask God to forgive you……….this is between you and him.

    Report Post »  
  • SurhanSurhan
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:09pm

    And you freaking barbarians point the accusatory finger at middle Eastern countries and Muslims for how they treat women and you’re worse than they are. You talk about FGM and you commit a worse sin than that.

    Americans pretend to treat women with respect but the evidence doesn’t bear that out. You’ve never had a female president. You don’t pay your women the same as you do men for doing the same job. And now the whole world sees that you kill girls for being girls. Pre-Islamic Muslims used to do the same thing. Americans are nothing but a bunch of slack-jawed-troglodytes…all of you…your women included.

    Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:42pm

      We’re troglodytes compared to the Muslims of the Middle East. We don’t have honor killings of females nor acid attacks. We are really primitive compared to you LULZ!

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    • SurhanSurhan
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 7:16pm

      @ WALKABOUT- Oh, I see, forget about those forty million fetuses aborted each year in American. Because you don’t do honor killings (except the Mexicans in central America) you’re better than the rest of us. I see.

      Report Post »  
    • Windsong
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 7:54pm

      Then again, women in America are allowed to vote, speak their own minds, drive, go where they please and get justice when some man has decided to murder his wife and/or daughter because he feels somehow superior. Talk about a myth……………………..

      Report Post »  
    • SurhanSurhan
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 8:23pm

      @ WINDSONG- So, because the men have decided to feed you crumbs you feel like you don’t deserve the entire pie.

      1 Corinthians 11:7: For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

      Matthew 15:27: And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs (women/girls) eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

      Luke 16:21: And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the man’s table: moreover the dogs (women/girls) came and licked his sores.

      Ephesians 5:22: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

      Who was tricked into eating from the forbidden tree, the man or the woman? Christians say it was the woman. And because of her, sin entered into the world. There’s a war-on-women in America, but they are given crumbs and they’re satisfied.

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    • Walkabout
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 8:53pm

      The abortions are done by Godless Communists. You see Surhan surhan we have to keep the faith when beset by 2 enemies.

      LaHood’s son & friends (plus code Pink) were in Egypt & the Middle East breaking bread. different year same stuff. Last century it he Middle East was breaking Bread with National socialists. Some things never change.

      Report Post »  
    • SurhanSurhan
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 10:02pm

      @ WALKABOUT- I’m wondering, do you have your finger on the pulse of all the woman to have had an abortion in America, and in particular this kind of abortion in order for you to make that statement?

      And why is it that your only concern is with the political affiliation of these women and not the deaths of these aborted girls?

      Americans were incensed when they heard about the girls that were sent back into a burning building in Saudi Arabia because the girls weren’t wearing their head cover and the girls ended up dying in the fire. And rightly so, Americans should have been angry. However, with this barbaric procedure Americans are willing to look the other way and steer the conversation towards other things like; well at least women in America can drive. At least we have free speech. At least we can get justice for rape. All those things are good, but if you’re a girl, you have to be born first in order to enjoy these rights. If not, they don’t mean a hill of beans.

      Report Post »  
  • tucsondon
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:05pm

    This country is swirling in the bowl.

    Report Post » tucsondon  
    • vvinyard
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:11pm

      Disgusting, Murderers. OMG I am totally at a loss for words. How can something like this be condoned? I am ashamed to be an American, I do not stand for this, never.

      Report Post »  
  • catwilli
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:46pm

    I want names!

    Report Post » catwilli  
  • dealer@678
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:40pm

    The day is coming when women will have their new born babies sent to the wood chipper because they dont like the color of its hair

    Report Post »  
    • rodeogolf
      Posted on June 1, 2012 at 1:39pm

      big sale on wood chippers at Home Depot…

      yeah…that totally sounded like reality…

      Report Post »  
  • FaithfulFriend
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:39pm

    The moral cliff is now behind us and these politicians are pathetic. Ban large sodas anywhere in America but not this? Pathetic.

    Report Post » FaithfulFriend  
  • Tigress1
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:36pm

    Sick. Americans cull PEOPLE, just like you might cull weeds from your garden, or a farmer would cull his herd or flock. This makes us less human(e).

    Report Post » Tigress1  
  • cwrink
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:27pm

    Just who are the Republicans that voted against this ban? They need to be voted out.

    Report Post »  
    • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 8:41pm

      “Dr No”…Ron Paul is one… but he‘ll tell ya’ it’s ALL about States rights…..

      Republicans voting against the bill were Reps. Justin Amash (Mich.), Charlie Bass (N.H.), Mary Bono Mack (Calif.), Robert Dold (Ill.), Richard Hanna (N.Y.), Nan Hayworth (N.Y.),…

      …and Ron Paul (Texas).

      Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz (the bill’s author), said before the vote that whatever the outcome, the point would be made that “When people vote on this, the world will know where they really stand” and that’s why it was brought to the floor for a vote by a Republican.

      Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
  • akairey
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:26pm

    Here’s the bigger picture! White americans will be a minority in less than 50 years! In Great Britain, George USED to be the # 1 baby name, but now it’s Mohammed. Because those who choose to kill innocent unborn children, they are dewindling the white american population and white British population, while those others aren’t practicing in killing their own babies (with exception to China)! And get this…I’m hispanic, but foremost I’m AMERICAN! AMERICA must RESTORE its claim in the world and must RESTORE its covenant with GOD again or else!!

    Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 8:39pm

      That’s weird, because the other fetus freaks keep telling me that abortion is racist and genocidal against the black community because they get more abortions per capita than white women. Personally, I don’t care what color you fetus you’re aborting, as long as it’s your choice it’s all good.

      Report Post »  
  • flatbroke
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:17pm

    Everything has consequences, and having more male babies will make a culture more militant and less creative, and having more girls will make a culture less militant, and more creative, and it seems as asian religions are concerned with balance, this is not balance, and the results will be irreversable.

    Report Post » flatbroke  
    • akairey
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:29pm

      @FLATBROKE…you’re right! Currently China has a population mostly consisting of males 58% of it’s population. Yet they’re continuing their 1 child policy, preferably male babies. To man sausages will cause problems!!!

      Report Post »  
    • The Third Archon
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:44pm

      Actually, the results are reversible–so long as there are generations to reproduce.

      However, if this practice becomes widespread, there are very real problems from gender ratio imbalances. Yes, societies with an overbalance of males tend to become more unstable, with more internal civil strife, crime, esp. violent, etc., while I do not know enough about the results of an overbalance of females to males (cultural values tend to result in the former, rather than the latter, state of affairs more often, as patriarchal cultures are more common historically than matriarchal ones), but there are undoubtedly negative consequences that result from this state of affairs as well.

      Report Post » The Third Archon  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 6:44pm

      The Third Archon
      However, if this practice becomes widespread, there are very real problems from gender ratio imbalance

      You mean like more war, crime, rape & homosexuality?

      China will have 30 million unbalanced males. Not going to be a fun time :(

      Report Post »  
  • CougarNick78
    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:13pm

    Well, your RINOs made themselves and their priorities known…. Sorry, unborn children, you don’t matter but tell your folks to vote for me before you get shucked like an oyster! Remember R and D is always a good choice!

    Report Post » CougarNick78  
    • ACTFORCHRIST
      Posted on May 31, 2012 at 5:56pm

      I agree. As usual politicians on each side of the aisle are afraid to act like real men and women and stand for the most innocent of all.. the unborn. Instead they rail against capital punishment for those convicted of child murders while they condemn anyone who is pro-life. I never thought I would say this but at least the democrats will make a stand for what they believe even if it is wrong. The republicans are just a bunch of cowards!!!

      Report Post »  
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