Status of Major Pro-Life Legislation in Congress Pro-Life Legislation Enacted into Law

During 1999, Congress approved, and President Clinton signed, bills that extended a number of major pro-life policies, including the Hyde Amendment and other appropriation-bill "riders" that prohibit most federal funding of abortion.

In addition, President Clinton reluctantly accepted compromise language, sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), that substantially restricts the amount of money that the president can give to organizations that perform abortions in foreign nations or that work to weaken the abortion laws of foreign nations. (See story, page 1.)

Pro-Life Legislation Passed by the House

The following major pro-life bills were passed by the House of Representatives during 1999, and will be considered by the Senate in 2000:

* Child Custody Protection Act (HR 1218, S. 661), a bill to prohibit transportation of a minor across state lines if this circumvents a state parental notification or parental consent law. HR 1218 passed the House on June 30, 1999, 270-159.

* Unborn Victims of Violence Act (HR 2436, S. 1673), a bill to recognize an unborn child as a victim when she is injured or killed during commission of a violent federal crime. HR 2436 passed the House on September 30, 254-172.

* Pain Relief Promotion Act (HR 2260, S. 1272), a bill to provide doctors with the ability to aggressively treat their patients' pain, while prohibiting the use of federally controlled drugs for physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia. HR 2260 passed the House on October 27, 271-156. (See story, page 1.)

Pro-Life Legislation Passed by the Senate

On October 21, 1999, the Senate passed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (S. 1692), 63-34. A House version of the bill will be introduced in early 2000 by Congressman Charles Canady (R-Fl.), and the House will take up the bill. (President Clinton vetoed similar legislation in 1996 and 1997.)

Good Legislation Awaiting Further Action

In addition to the issues listed above, Congress is likely to consider a number of other important pro-life issues during 2000. For example, it is anticipated that a House committee will hold one or more hearings on the issue of trafficking in baby body parts. (See November NRL News, pages 8 and 12.)

Another important piece of legislation is the Women and Children's Resources Act (HR 2901, S. 1605), sponsored by Congressman Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) and Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), to provide funds for certain crisis pregnancy services. In addition, there may be action on any of several important adoption-related bills, such as the Hope for Children Act (HR 531), authored by Congressman Tom Bliley (R-Va.), and the Adoption Awareness Act (HR 2511), sponsored by Congressman Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Bliley.

Bad Legislation Awaiting Further Action

An attempt by pro-abortion Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to enact language to authorize federal funding of research that requires the killing of human embryos was blocked temporarily in the Senate, but Sen. Specter is expected to bring such a bill to the Senate floor in February 2000.

The Shays-Meehan bill (HR 417), a so-called "campaign reform" bill that would severely restrict free speech about officeholders and officeseekers, passed the House on September 14, 1999, 252-177. However, in October the bill was blocked by a filibuster in the Senate, as was another speech-restrictive "campaign reform" bill sponsored by Senators John McCain (R-Az.) and Russ Feingold (D-Wi.). McCain said that he will try again during 2000.