Graham says We are making Progress on protecting Life

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Monday, Jan. 29, made this statement after his legislation, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, did not receive the 60 votes necessary to move forward in the U.S. Senate. The vote was 51-46. The House of Representatives passed companion legislation in October of 2017 and President Trump has pledged to sign it into law when it passes Congress. Graham’s bill would prohibit abortion after 20 weeks, the point at which scientific evidence shows that unborn children can feel pain. The United States is currently one of only seven countries in the world that permit elective abortion after 20 weeks. Graham said, “We didn’t win the vote today, but we won hearts and minds. For more than three hours we debated on the floor of the Senate whether our great nation should end abortion on demand after 20 weeks. The arguments made on our behalf by my colleagues, including Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), were powerful and compelling. The arguments made against rang hollow. I have not given up this fight and I hope you will not either. Together we must press on and continue pushing for protection of the unborn. Today’s vote represents real progress for the pro-life movement. The more we discuss this matter, the more support we get from the American people. Similar to the fight to pass the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act and the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, it’s only a matter of time until we secure the votes to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. I truly believe that an overwhelming majority of the American people do not want our country to allow abortion in the fifth month of pregnancy. It’s a sad fact that the United States remains one of only seven nations that allows abortion on demand in the fifth month of pregnancy. I intend to keep pushing for this legislation to become law so that the United States can get out of this infamous ‘Club of Seven’. I’d like to thank Leader McConnell for allowing this important legislation to be debated and voted on. If Republicans did not have the majority it would never have happened. Finally, while today was a small setback, I have no doubt that we will eventually be victorious.”