“Seven years ago such a bill was first passed by Congress, but then, tragically vetoed by President Bill Clinton,” Franks said.   “Since then, unborn children numbering in the thousands have been unmercifully killed by this barbaric, nightmarish, procedure.  There is no greater mark of shame and disgrace on the Clinton administration.”

The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act (S. 3) makes it illegal in the United States for a physician to perform a partial-birth abortion. It is estimated that at least 2,200 to 5,000 partial-birth abortions are performed each year in the United States.  Partial-birth abortion is a procedure where a pregnant woman’s cervix is forcibly dilated over a three-day time period. On the third day, her child is pulled feet first through the birth canal until his or her entire body, except for the head, is outside the womb. The head is held inside the womb by the woman’s cervix. While the fetus is stuck in this position, the abortionist inserts scissors into the base of the baby’s skull and the scissors are opened, creating a hole in the baby’s head. The skull is either then crushed with instruments or a suction catheter is inserted into the hole, and the baby’s brain is suctioned out. 

An abortionist who violates this ban would be subject to fines, a maximum of two years imprisonment, or both. 

“A new day has dawned in America.  Even though this bill will not protect the other 4000 unborn children that die each day in America from abortion on demand, it marks a turning point in our nation's soul.  And it points to a day when that warm sunlight of life will break through the clouds and shine once again on the faces of all unborn children in America. 

When that day does come, and it will, history and coming generations will remember that it was President George Bush and members of this Congress who found the courage to reach out and take the tiny hand of an unnamed baby and refuse to let go until the storm was gone.”