House schedules 20-week abortion ban vote

WASHINGTON—House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., announced Tuesday the House of Representatives will vote next week on a bill to end late-term abortions. McCarthy said he would bring the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to the House floor Oct. 3, the first vote on a late-term abortion ban in two years. House Republicans passed a similar bill in 2015, but Democrats killed it in the Senate. The pro-life legislation would criminalize abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Violators could face fines or up to five years in prison. The bill allows for exceptions for rape, incest, or to save a mother’s life. Twenty states have passed similar legislation. The name of the bill refers to evidence showing unborn children begin to feel pain at 20 weeks gestation. McCarthy said President Donald Trump has promised to sign the bill if passed. Republicans have the votes in the House but not in the Senate. Although the GOP outnumbers Democrats 52-48 in the upper chamber, they need 60 votes to end debate and move legislation to the floor for a full vote.