Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act Re-Introduced in Congress
Ashley Horne
September 21, 2006

Congressman Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) re-introduced the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act today (H.R. 6099) with 65 cosponsors. The bill will likely receive a floor vote sometime next week. H.R. 6099 was introduced in both the 108th and the 109th Congress by Rep. Smith and by Senator Brownback (R-Kansas).

The re-introduction of the bill includes some revisions, such as a removal of the provision allowing for mandatory revocation of medical licenses for abortion providers who violate the law. However, financial penalties of up to $250,000 remain.

H.R. 6099 would require abortion providers to notify women who want to have an abortion 20 weeks after fertilization that the evidence suggests their unborn child feels pain and they may request anesthesia for their unborn child in order to reduce or eliminate the pain. This legislation would not require anesthesia and it specifically protects the doctor's right to inform the woman of any risks to her according to his or her own best medical judgment. the rest