The Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of moving forward Pennsylvania H.B. 1948 on Monday, which if passed into law would ban abortion after 20 weeks. The bill will head to the senate for a vote.
H.B. 1948 would reduce the current window for abortion in Pennsylvania to 20 weeks, with exceptions made only for medical emergencies. It hopes to prevent brutal dismemberment of unborn children who are able to feel pain, modeled on the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, versions of which have already been passed by 12 states.
The sponsor of the bill, Rep. Kathy Rapp, stated that with the bill, “we’re going to end the inhumane practice of dismemberment abortions, which tears a living human being to pieces.”
Gov. Tom Wolf has promised to veto the bill should it reach his desk. However, supporters of the bill hope that with its strong bipartisan support, a gubernatorial veto could be overturned by the state legislature.