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The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The law cites congressional findings about the development of the fetus. It makes exceptions for abortions if the mother’s life is threatened by the pregnancy or if the pregnancy was a result of rape or incest.

If enacted, anyone who violates the bill could face a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. The bill defines abortion as any medication or procedure “to intentionally kill the unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant”.

UPDATE: 5/13/2015: After pulling this bill from a vote at the start of the 114th Congress, House Republicans are bringing it back for consideration. With some changes to the legislation, namely around survivors of sexual assault, sponsors are feeling more confident. As Think Progress explains:

\"The amended version of the bill does not require rape victims to report their assaults to the authorities. That change technically eliminates the sticking point that thwarted the legislation at the beginning of the year... As the bill is currently written, rape survivors may only circumvent the ban on post-20-week abortions if they sought counseling or medical care within 48 hours of the procedure. If they visited an abortion clinic for either of those services, it doesn’t count.\"

","official_title":"To amend title 18, United States Code, to protect pain-capable unborn children, and for other purposes.","short_title":"Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act","popular_title":null,"short_summary":"Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act\n\n 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.\n\nRequires 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.\n\nProhibits an 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; (2) where the pregnancy is the result of rape against an adult woman and, at least 48 hours prior to the abortion, such woman has obtained counseling for the rape ...","summarized":true,"cost":17000000,"cost_commentary":"Keeping in mind the additional fees that come with delivering more babies that otherwise would have been aborted, and the extra costs of abortions that are performed before the 20 week limit — the CBO estimates that H.R. 36 would increase federal budget deficits by $75 million over the 2015-2020 period and $235 million over the 2015-2025 period. ","impact":"Pregnant women in the U.S., pro and anti-abortion activist groups, healthcare providers that offer abortions, hospitals that offer prenatal care, and Medicare. ","argument_for":"Unborn babies can feel pain after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Abortions outside of that timeframe should be outlawed to ensure the safety and well-being of unborn life. ","argument_against":"The male legislators who proposed this bill should not have a say on what women choose to do with their bodies. This bill tramples on women's reproductive rights. 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Should The U.S. Ban Abortions After 20 Weeks Of Pregnancy?