URGENT ACTION ALERT
Abortion Procedures Ban Vote in Senate This week
October 18, 1999
Please Take Immediate Action:
Again the U.S. Senate is poised to
vote on an abortion procedures ban. Activists
are urged to immediately call, fax, or email their Senators to ask them
to vote against this bad bill. And, again, the legislation, S.
1692, the so-called "Partial-Birth Abortion Act" would ban safe and
legal abortion procedures and jeopardize women's health. The language in
the bill is vaguely worded and could potentially prohibit a number of different
abortion procedures. There is no provision in the bill which would allow
an abortion to preserve the woman's health.
Two previous Congresses have passed abortion procedure bans and President
Clinton has vetoed them. Each time, Congress has failed to override the
vetoes, although with only a slim margin in the Senate. Calls to each and
every Senator are essential in assuring that we maintain our base of support.
The vote could happen Wednesday or Thursday of this week. The main number
for Congress is (202) 224-3121; Senators' fax numbers and email addresses
are listed on the website for the Senate at http://www.senate.gov/senators/index.cfm
Additional Background Information:
The good news is that in 21 states where abortion procedures bans have
been challenged, 19 courts have partially or fully enjoined the bans as
they are vague and constitute an undue burden on a woman's right to obtain
an abortion. The bans utilize the term "partial-birth abortion" which is
not a medical term, but a political one, and therefore it is not clear
exactly which medical procedures are banned.
The other piece of good news is that the American
Medical Association (AMA) has rescinded its resolution opposing certain
late term abortion procedures. The American
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American
Medical Women's Association (AMWA) and the American
Nurses Association (ANA) all oppose abortion procedures bans.
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