[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 28, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BAN

 Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to cosponsor Senate 
bill 6. In doing so I add my voice to the chorus calling for an end to 
partial birth abortion. The bill we are considering is designed to 
outlaw medical procedures ``in which the person performing the abortion 
partially delivers a living fetus before killing the fetus and 
completing the delivery.'' It is a narrowly drafted bill which 
specifically and effectively targets a rare but grisly and unnecessary 
practice.
  I understand, Mr. President, that the American people are divided on 
many issues within the abortion debate. I am firmly pro-life. But in my 
view one need not resort to broad, ideological arguments in this case. 
Partial birth abortions occur in the second or third trimester of 
pregnancy. They are never required to save the life, health or child-
bearing ability of the mother. They are unnecessary and regrettable.
  We in this Chamber failed to override the President's veto of this 
legislation during the last Congress. But I remain convinced that all 
of us can agree that this nation can do without this particular grisly 
procedure. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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