Announces bills ahead of 50th annual March for Life
U.S. SENATE – Senator Steve Daines today announced he will reintroduce two bills to protect babies with Down syndrome from abortion and protect vulnerable mothers and their unborn children from chemical abortions on college campuses. Daines, founder of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, is introducing the bills to help mark the 50th anniversary of the March for Life in Washington, D.C.
“Every life is created with God-given dignity and potential—no matter how small or how many chromosomes they may have,” Daines said.“We are making great strides to build a culture of life in America but there is more work to be done. Now more than ever it’s critical we continue our fight on the federal level to be a voice for the most vulnerable and protect young moms from the dangers of do-it-yourself chemical abortions.”
Daines’ “Protecting Individuals with Down Syndrome Act:”
- Makes it illegal for a doctor to knowingly perform an abortion being sought because the baby has or may have Down syndrome, or, if the doctor does not know whether Down syndrome is a contributing factor, requires the doctor to first ask the mother if she is aware of any test results indicating that the child has Down syndrome and to inform her of prohibitions put in place by the law.
- Prohibits anyone from forcing a woman to have an abortion because the baby has Down syndrome.
- Imposes a fine and/or imprisonment of up to five years on those who violate the law, and pulls federal funds under existing federal disability anti-discrimination laws from associated abortion clinics.
- Protects the mother by barring her from being prosecuted or held liable for any violation of the bill and puts in place guardrails to protect her privacy in all court proceedings.
In 2021, Daines spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate on the importance of his legislation. To watch the full speech, click HERE.
Daines’ “Protecting Life on College Campus Act:”
- Prohibits any institution of higher education from receiving federal funding if the school’s campus clinic provides abortion pills or abortions to students or employees
- Requires institutions to annually certify with the Dept. of Education and HHS that no such site/clinic is providing abortion drugs or abortions to their students
- Protects students from the dangers of do-it-yourself abortion medications
Daines first introduced this bill in the 117th Congress after California and other states began to pass legislation requiring campus health clinics at public colleges and universities to provide chemical abortion pills on demand to students starting in 2023.
To read more about Senator Daines’ legislation, click HERE.
In honor of March for Life, Daines is also sharing a video featuring Montana mom and daughter duo Gloria and Kasen Gregg. Kasen is the youngest of Gloria’s eight children and was not either of the children Gloria felt pressured to abort. Listen to their story to hear how Gloria’s experience has inspired their entire family to be fiercely pro-life and work to end the violence of abortion.
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Contact: Rachel Dumke, Blake Kernen