U.S. House passes Unborn Victims of Violence Act

Right to Life of Michigan applauds the federal government for recognizing the rights of pregnant women and their unborn children by addressing the fact that unborn children can be victims of violence. Women suffer a separate loss when violence results in injury or death to their unborn children. This legislation will recognize that loss.

On April 26, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Unborn Victims of Violence Act by a strong margin, 252 to 172.

In Michigan, pregnant women and their unborn children have been protected by a similar law since 1999 when the Prenatal Protection Act went into effect.

Right to Life of Michigan President Barbara Listing said, "We are pleased to be a part of the more than twenty states whose prenatal protection laws prompted the U.S. Congress to extend federal protection to pregnant women and their unborn children."

When violence against women injures or causes the death of their unborn children, the punishment should fit the crime. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act takes a step closer to addressing the loss women and families feel when violence ends the lives of developing unborn children, Listing said.

The measure now faces an uncertain future in the U.S. Senate. No date for Senate action has been set.

 

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