Congressman Tim Ryan Votes to Oppose 20-Week Abortion Ban

Congressman Tim Ryan today opposed H.R. 1797, the Nationwide 20-Week Abortion Ban bill which would establish a federal ban on abortions taking place after twenty weeks of pregnancy. While the bill contains an exception in the cases of rape or incest, this exception is alarmingly narrow as it excludes cases that were not reported to law enforcement. This means that 54% of rape victims would not have the option to terminate their pregnancies since their cases went unreported.

"This bill is dangerous in its implications and completely ignores the risks posed to women who carry pregnancies with severe and possibly fatal problems that may be discovered after twenty weeks," said Congressman Ryan. "House Republicans are trying to remove these complex decisions with medical, spiritual, financial and emotional implications, from women and hand it to politicians where it certainly does not belong. By continuing to spend Congress's time on legislation they know will never become law, this bill is further proof that Congressional Republicans continue to neglect our national jobs crisis."

H.R. 1797 would place doctors in difficult situations in which they could not help their patients whose pregnancies have been determined non-viable after twenty weeks, which is four weeks shorter than the minimum viability period of twenty-four weeks.

The Nationwide 20-Week Abortion Ban bill is opposed by numerous health and religious organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the United Church of Christ, the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

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