Reproductive Rights Bill

[Ebowed]

Reproductive Rights Bill

Section 1: Findings
1. F.L. 12-10, Abortion Restriction in Federal Territories Act, contains provisions that:
a.) Criminalize safe pregnancy termination procedures performed under most circumstances in the second trimester;
b.) Intrude on the constraints of a civil union contract entered into by a woman who is pregnant;
c.) Mandate the invasion of medical privacy for women based solely on their marital status;
d.) Discriminate against women on the basis of age in determining the ease with which a woman may obtain an abortion.

Section 2: Repealed Legislation
1. The Abortion Restriction in Federal Territories Act is repealed.


Sponsor: The President pro tempore

[Јas]

What rules or statutes, if any, would apply to the federal territories, with regard to abortion, should this legislation be repealed?

[Јas]

What rules or statutes, if any, would apply to the federal territories, with regard to abortion, should this legislation be repealed?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Obviously, in the absence of this legislation, the rules imposed by the territorial governments themselves would apply.  In the real world, I would support leaving that decision to the territories to decide, but we have no territorial governments and thus if anyone is to set policy for them it must be the Senate.  While the limits could use tweaking, the ones that the Abortion Restriction in Federal Territories Act sets are not unreasonable in my opinion, therefore I shall vote against repeal.  However, measures to modify them could obtain my support.

[Ebowed]

What rules or statutes, if any, would apply to the federal territories, with regard to abortion, should this legislation be repealed?

This question was not considered when the legislation in question was ever put in place, so the brief answer is that no one knows.

However, measures to modify them could obtain my support.

I would at the very least seek to remove the criminalization of pregnancy in the second trimester as well as parental and spousal consent provisions.

[Јas]

What rules or statutes, if any, would apply to the federal territories, with regard to abortion, should this legislation be repealed?

This question was not considered when the legislation in question was ever put in place, so the brief answer is that no one knows.

Thanks.

I don't think I could vote to pass an act which could allow effectively unrestriced abortion access. I feel that once a fetus has reached the stage whereby it would probably be capable of surviving independently outside the womb, then abortion is a violation of the right to life. To my knowledge (which certainly stands open to correction, as I certainly don't hold myself out to be a medical expert), this stage is usually reached around the 22 week mark. Beyond this, my position on whether or not abortion should be allowed is much less steadfast (except to say that I have no qualms whatsoever with such things as the 'morning after pill').

I suppose I haven't yet come to a decision personally on the morality of those cases which fall in between and what should or should not be allowed. Thus, within the redlines of the first days of the pregnancy and the period outlined above regarding the potential for independent survival, I would be willing to consider most suggestions. However, it seems clear that this bill, in its current form, would freely allow late-term abortions and so I shall probably be voting against it.

[Ebowed]

In the spirit of compromise, I introduce an amendment to strike the text of the bill and replace it with:

1. This law shall only apply in federal territories.
2. It shall be against the law to induce the termination of a pregnancy 22 weeks or later after the implantation of the embryo into the woman's womb, unless continuing the pregnancy presents a severe threat to the life of the mother and/or fetus.
3. Doctors in violation of clause 2 will be liable of up to a $10,000 fine or one year in jail.
4. The Abortion Restriction in Federal Territories Act is repealed.

[Colin]

That amendment makes this at least palatable to my tastes since I was leery of any bill that completely got rid of any abortion regulations as per the original and had many of the concerns as the honorable Senator Jas.

[Ebowed]

We will vote on this amendment to replace the text of the bill with:
1. This law shall only apply in federal territories.
2. It shall be against the law to induce the termination of a pregnancy 22 weeks or later after the implantation of the embryo into the woman's womb, unless continuing the pregnancy presents a severe threat to the life of the mother and/or fetus.
3. Doctors in violation of clause 2 will be liable of up to a $10,000 fine or one year in jail.
4. The Abortion Restriction in Federal Territories Act is repealed.

---

Aye

[Јas]

Aye

[Brandon H]

Nay

[Colin]

Aye

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Aye

[Gustaf]

What rules or statutes, if any, would apply to the federal territories, with regard to abortion, should this legislation be repealed?

This question was not considered when the legislation in question was ever put in place, so the brief answer is that no one knows.

Thanks.

I don't think I could vote to pass an act which could allow effectively unrestriced abortion access. I feel that once a fetus has reached the stage whereby it would probably be capable of surviving independently outside the womb, then abortion is a violation of the right to life. To my knowledge (which certainly stands open to correction, as I certainly don't hold myself out to be a medical expert), this stage is usually reached around the 22 week mark. Beyond this, my position on whether or not abortion should be allowed is much less steadfast (except to say that I have no qualms whatsoever with such things as the 'morning after pill').

I suppose I haven't yet come to a decision personally on the morality of those cases which fall in between and what should or should not be allowed. Thus, within the redlines of the first days of the pregnancy and the period outlined above regarding the potential for independent survival, I would be willing to consider most suggestions. However, it seems clear that this bill, in its current form, would freely allow late-term abortions and so I shall probably be voting against it.

It's nice to see that my regional senator represents my view perfectly on at least one issue.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Aye

[Rob]

Nay.

[DWPerry]

nay

[Јas]

It's nice to see that my regional senator represents my view perfectly on at least one issue.

...after only 8 months in the Senate.

[Ebowed]

The amendment passes.

[Ebowed]

We are now voting on final passage.

Reproductive Rights Bill

1. This law shall only apply in federal territories.
2. It shall be against the law to induce the termination of a pregnancy 22 weeks or later after the implantation of the embryo into the woman's womb, unless continuing the pregnancy presents a severe threat to the life of the mother and/or fetus.
3. Doctors in violation of clause 2 will be liable of up to a $10,000 fine or one year in jail.
4. The Abortion Restriction in Federal Territories Act is repealed.


Aye

[Gustaf]

It's nice to see that my regional senator represents my view perfectly on at least one issue.

...after only 8 months in the Senate.

Well, I didn't check any votes till just now.

[Brandon H]

Nay

[Colin]

Aye

[DWPerry]

nay

[Јas]

I have given strong consideration to this but cannot come to a definitive conclusion on wheter or not this bill is better or worse than F.L.12-10. I've explained my position on this issue already. As yet I haven't come to a conclusion on the relative moral/ethical position of this compared to the standing law.

Therefore, I shall abstain.