WASHINGTON (100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA) — U.S. Representative Mike Kelly brought forth a new proposal this week.
HR 705, called the Heartbeat Protection Act, would prevent abortions after a fetal heart rate is detected.
"All people have a right to life, including unborn babies who are the most vulnerable and voiceless among us," said Kelly. "A beating heart is the clearest sign of life. Tens of millions of human beings have been lost to abortion since Roe v. Wade, but we can and must act to prevent that fate for future generations."
If passed into law, the act would require doctors to check for a fetus's heartbeat before conducting an abortion.
Failure to comply with that policy would result in criminality.
However, the act would not apply to women whose lives are being threatened by the fetus.
Under the law, women who get an abortion after the heartbeat threshold would be subject to prosecution.
Currently, the bill is being cosponsored by 41 members of the House of Representatives