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S 1670 113th Congress Senate Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Abortion Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Medical tests and diagnostic methods Women's health

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

Introduced: November 7, 2013 Introduced by: Graham, Lindsey Republican · South Carolina See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 7, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 7, 2013
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act - Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit any person from performing or attempting to perform an abortion except in conformity with this Act's requirements.

Requires the physician to first determine the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child, or reasonably rely upon such a determination made by another physician, by making inquiries of the pregnant woman and performing such medical examinations and tests as a reasonably prudent physician would consider necessary.

Prohibits the abortion from being performed if the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater, except: (1) where necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness, or injury, excluding psychological or emotional conditions; or (2) where the pregnancy is the result of rape, or the result of incest against a minor, if the rape has been reported at any time prior to the abortion to an appropriate law enforcement agency, or if the incest has been reported at any time prior to the abortion to an appropriate law enforcement agency or to a government agency legally authorized to act on reports of child abuse or neglect. Permits a physician to terminate a pregnancy under such an exception only in the manner that provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless that manner would pose a greater risk than other available methods would pose of the death or substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, excluding psychological or emotional conditions, of the pregnant woman.

Subjects individuals who violate this Act to a fine, imprisonment for not more than five years, or both. Bars prosecution of a woman upon whom an abortion is performed in violation of this Act for violating or conspiring to violate this Act.

Defines "abortion" to mean the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or any other substance or device to intentionally kill an unborn child or to intentionally terminate a pregnancy with an intention other than: (1) after viability, to produce a live birth and preserve the life and health of the child; or (2) to remove a dead unborn child.

What's happening now November 7, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1670: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1670/
MLA
"S. 1670: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1670/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1670, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1670/.
Markdown link
[S. 1670: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-S-1670/)
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