Kelly Introduces Legislation to Prevent Abortions When a Fetal Heartbeat is Detected

Washington, D.C. - This week U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) introduced H.R. 705, the Heartbeat Protection Act. This legislation would prohibit abortions when an unborn child's heartbeat is detected.

"All people have a right to life including unborn babies who are the most vulnerable and voiceless among us," said Kelly. "A beating heart is the clearest sign of life. Tens of millions of human beings have been lost to abortion since Roe v. Wade but we can and must act to prevent that fate for future generations."

Background

The Heartbeat Protection Act requires doctors to check for a fetal heartbeat before performing an abortion. Any physician who performs an abortion without checking for a heartbeat or aborts a child with a detected heartbeat would be subject to criminal penalties. This restriction would not apply to abortions that are necessary to save the life of the mother. Women who obtain an abortion that  violates this law would not be subject to prosecution.

This legislation is cosponsored by 41 members of the House of Representatives and is endorsed by National Right to Life, the Susan B. Anthony List, and the Family Research Council.

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