VP JD Vance: ‘I want more babies in the USA’
Vice President JD Vance told a crowd at the March for Life rally that he wanted to see “more babies” in the U.S.
A Missouri Congressman has introduced a bill that would label unborn American children as people in the eyes of the law, and two Congress members from Illinois support it.
U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri, a Republican, authored legislation that would “affirm the fundamental right to life for every human being, born and unborn,” and declare unborn children as “persons” under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, according to a news release.
The bill aims to recognize and protect the right to life of unborn children and is dubbed the Life at Conception Act.
The full text of the law is not yet available.
Members of Congress from Illinois co-sponsored the bill. U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, and U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro have co-sponsored the legislation along with 65 others.
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion, Rep. Burlison now argues that unborn children are human beings and entitled to protection under the Constitution.
“Every life is a sacred gift from God, deserving of dignity and protection from the moment of conception,” stated the representative. “The Life at Conception Act uses Congress’ constitutional authority to define personhood, fulfilling our moral and legal obligation to safeguard the lives of the unborn.”
The representative cites the 14th amendment as reasoning for the bill: “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”
Should the House Committee of the Judiciary release the bill for voting, the bill would need a majority of votes (218 of 435) to move to the Senate. If the bill moves to the Senate, it will need 51 out of 100 votes to pass, unless it is filibustered, which would then need 60 votes to pass. 53 Republicans hold seats in the Senate.
Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.