The House is set to vote next week on a ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy; signing such a bill was a key promise that President Donald Trump made to the anti-choice movement during his campaign.
At a press conference with members of Congress today announcing the planned vote, Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the anti-choice Susan B. Anthony List and the head of the Trump campaign’s “pro-life coalition,” credited Trump for taking the issue of a 20-week ban “out of the political ghetto.”
The bill, authored by Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona, provides exceptions only to “save the life of the pregnant woman” or “when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest” and the woman obtaining the abortion obtains counseling or medical treatment for the rape at least 48 hours prior to the procedure.
When a similar bill circulated in 2015, Dannenfelser called the rape exception “abominable” and “regrettable,” saying that it was only included for reasons of political feasibility.
Last night, Dannenfelser was among the conservative leaders to have dinner with Trump at the White House. Also at the press conference today was National Right to Life’s Jennifer Popick, who noted that the 20-week ban is based on her group’s model legislation.
