McConnell Suggests GOP Senators Not Keen to Consider Graham’s 15-week Abortion Ban

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday suggested that Senate Republicans aren’t anxious to consider Sen. Lindsey Graham’s 15-week national abortion ban even if the party takes the majority next year.

The bill, unveiled by Graham earlier the same day and dubbed the Protecting Pain-Capable Unborn Children from Late-Term Abortions Act, would impose criminal penalties on physicians who carry out an abortion after the 15-week mark, when research suggests the unborn infant can feel pain and distress.

The legislation seeks to balance pro-life policy goals with some exceptions and exemptions, targeting doctors who would perform illegal abortions rather than women who seek them out.

For instance, the bill establishes a new federal criminal offense for performing or attempting to perform an abortion if it is probable that the infant is at least 15 weeks old, roughly the point at which unborn children are capable of feeling pain and distress, though scientists remain divided on when exactly an infant can feel pain.

Doctors and other health professionals who violate the 15-week rule would be on the hook for a fine and as much as a five-year stint in federal prison.

The legislation would allow some exemptions. Specifically, a doctor under the bill is permitted to perform an abortion if the procedure is deemed medically necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. The text lays out certain procedures and standards physicians must follow if they are relying on one of these exemptions to perform a late-term abortion.

The bill would not target, either civilly or criminally, pregnant women who seek out an illegal abortion if the bill passed.

But McConnell, following the announcement of the bill, suggested that it’s not high on his list of priorities if he becomes Senate